HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

House of Commons Employees

Barry Sheerman: To ask the hon. Member for Aberdeen North, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps are being taken to ensure the fair treatment of all House of Commons employees.

Frank Doran: The Commission is committed to ensuring that House staff are treated fairly and in accordance with the law. The Management Board seeks to engage with staff at all levels on the Commission's behalf, and staff are encouraged to join a trade union to represent their interests. I am pleased that, in the staff survey in the summer, 88% of staff said they were proud to work for the House Service.

School Parties

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the hon. Member for Aberdeen North, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps are being taken to increase support to school parties which wish to visit the Houses of Parliament.

Frank Doran: Since 2009, a transport subsidy has been available to support state-funded schools from outside London and the South East with the costs of their journey to Parliament.
	The House has submitted a planning application to Westminster city council to seek permission to establish a dedicated Education Centre on the north end of Victoria Tower Gardens. This would increase the number of young people able to visit Parliament each year from 45,000 to 100,000.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Money Laundering: Prosecutions

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General how many anti-money-laundering cases, originating from suspicious activity reports or from independent law enforcement investigations, were prosecuted in each year from 2008 to 2012.

Oliver Heald: Money laundering involves dealing with the proceeds of crime and the principal money laundering offences are found in sections 327, 328 and 329 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The number of offences charged by the CPS under these sections is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 S.327 1,968 2,236 2,128 2,361 2,193 
			 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 S.328 518 624 631 536 613 
			 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 S.329 3,174 2,900 3,375 3,076 2,924 
			 Total offences charged 5,660 5,760 6,134 5,973 5,730 
		
	
	To ascertain the number of money laundering cases that involved a suspicious activity report (SAR) or that arose from independent law enforcement investigations would require a manual search of files which would incur a disproportionate cost.
	Money laundering often features in Serious Fraud Office cases but may be an alternative count on the indictment or otherwise reflected within the prosecution case for a particular criminal offence. Between April and December 2012, there were two convictions relating to money laundering counts in SFO cases.
	Before this time, records are less reliable. However, the records available show that six SFO cases involving money laundering counts were dealt with between January 2008 and April 2012. Of these, two were in 2010, two in 2011, and two in 2012 before April. Four individuals were successfully prosecuted in three of those cases.
	Given the small number of cases involved it would not be appropriate to provide more information about the source of any referrals.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Pamela Nash: To ask the Attorney-General what discussions (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have had with their counterparts in the Scottish Government regarding the Scottish Government's White Paper on independence.

Oliver Heald: Neither the Attorney-General nor the Solicitor-General have held discussions with the Scottish Government regarding its White Paper on independence.

TRANSPORT

Road User Pricing

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on road user pricing.

Robert Goodwill: The Government has been clear that it does not support national road pricing and has made a clear commitment not to toll existing road capacity.
	We are committed to a system of charging for trucks that ensures UK hauliers get a fairer deal and all users contribute to the cost of maintaining our roads. This is currently on track to be introduced in April 2014.

Great Eastern Main Line

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve rail services on the great eastern main line between Norwich and London Liverpool Street.

Stephen Hammond: The Department is engaged in negotiations to secure a direct award contract with Abellio for them to continue running services on the Greater Anglia routes from July 2014 through to October 2016. As this stage it is not possible to say what improvements will be included in that contract.

A47

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve safety on the A47 in (a) Cambridgeshire and (b) other counties.

Robert Goodwill: The Highways Agency takes road safety on the strategic road network very seriously and they continue to monitor the safety of the A47 trunk road as with all other routes on the strategic road network.
	The Agency is delivering six safety improvement schemes on the A47 this financial year and this programme will continue with over £1.2 million earmarked for next year on safety schemes, as well as over £700,000 on a pinch point scheme.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of proposed High Speed 2 route on (a) waterways and (b) waterways managed by the Canal and River Trust.

Robert Goodwill: An environmental statement will be published alongside the hybrid Bill later this year. That document will set out likely significant impacts of the scheme, along with potential mitigation measures, including in relation to any waterways. The Minister of State for Transport, the noble Lady Baroness Kramer, will meet with the Canal and River Trust shortly.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials at what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers in his Department.

Stephen Hammond: One private secretary provides direct support to special advisers at the Department for Transport.

Railways: Kettering

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what preliminary estimates have been made of the frequency of train services (a) to and (b) from Kettering after High Speed 2 has become operational.

Robert Goodwill: The Department's aim is that all towns or cities will retain broadly comparable or better services once HS2 is completed. It is not appropriate to specify the exact timetable for train services that are planned to operate in 2026 when HS2 Phase 1 services begin. The detailed timetable development will take place nearer the time and will consider operational considerations as well as the forecast passenger demand for services.

Transport

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to tackle pinch points in the transport network.

Robert Goodwill: To date the Government has provided funding of over £486 million for 208 schemes covering both the strategic and local road networks.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Times of Sittings

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Leader of the House if he will publish any plans to change the sitting times of the last sitting day before any recess.

Andrew Lansley: The Government brings forward any proposals to change sitting hours on the last day before a recess in the light of the particular circumstances and the day of the week in question, and after appropriate consultation. The final decision is for the House itself. The Government has no plans to bring forward proposals to change these arrangements.

PRIME MINISTER

CasteWatchUK

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what response he has given to CasteWatchUK to their petition delivered to Downing Street on 19 October 2013.

David Cameron: My hon. Friend the Minister for Women and Equalities, the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Mrs Grant) replied to CasteWatchUK on 25 October. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Environment Protection: Taxation

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer to the right hon. Member for Doncaster North on 23 October 2013, Official Report, columns 293-94, which green levies are being reviewed; which Department is reviewing those levies; and when a decision on this matter will be announced.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) on 5 November 2013, Official Report, column 150W.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2013, Official Report, column 426W, on unmanned aerial vehicles, for what reasons the Minister for Armed Forces has lead responsibility for the regulation and operation of drones in civil airspace. [R]

David Cameron: There is no such thing as civil airspace, only national airspace, in which both civil and military aviation activities are conducted. Ministerial responsibilities reflect the different use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in the UK.
	Ministerial responsibility for regulation of military RPAS lies with the Secretary of State for Defence and the Minister for the Armed Forces overseeing military operational responsibilities. Ministerial responsibility for non-military RPAS lies with the Secretary of State for Transport and the Minister for Aviation.

INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE

Conflict of Interests

Steven Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what ultimate recourse is available to hon. Members who find themselves in an infrastructure dispute with IPSA.

Charles Walker: The Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 provides for Members in dispute with IPSA to appeal to the compliance officer and to the first tier tribunal as appropriate.

Conflict of Interests

Steven Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority if he will make an assessment of any potential for conflict of interest between IPSA's dual roles of regulator and provider of professional services to hon. Members.

Charles Walker: No. IPSA's roles were agreed to by Parliament during the passage of legislation that became the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 and Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

European Union

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what submissions to the Balance of Competences review he has received from EU member states and institutions.

David Lidington: During the first semester, we received formal submissions from Bulgaria, Italy, the European Commission, the European Investment Bank and the European External Action Service. This evidence was published alongside the final reports on www.gov.uk.

Iran

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received any substantive evidence of Iran slowing down its nuclear programme since the discussions on Iran's nuclear future in Geneva in October 2013.

Hugh Robertson: The International Atomic Energy Agency report covering the period since August 2013 is due to be released later this month. However, there is nothing to suggest that Iran has slowed down its programme since the October discussions in Geneva. Iran continues to enrich uranium and develop its programme.

Iran

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the EU High Representative on External Affairs on negotiations with Iran on nuclear development.

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and other E3+3 Foreign Ministers discussed the Iranian nuclear programme with the EU High Representative in the margins of UN General Assembly on 26 September 2013. Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif attended part of this meeting. On 21 October at the Foreign Affairs Council, Baroness Ashton discussed with EU Foreign Ministers the nuclear talks with Iran.

Iran

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of any changes in Iran's position on nuclear development since the election of President Rouhani.

Hugh Robertson: Since President Rouhani's election, Iran has engaged positively and seriously in nuclear talks with the E3+3. But as the International Atomic Energy Agency Director General's report of 28 August noted, Iran's nuclear programme has continued to develop. Iran now needs to translate its constructive approach into concrete steps to address the international community's concerns.

Kenya

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Kenyans have initiated legal proceedings against the Government in connection with alleged abuses committed during the Kenya Emergency.

Mark Simmonds: The Government reached an out-of-court settlement agreement with 5,228 Kenyans involved in the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya. They were represented by Leigh Day, and supported by the Kenyan Human Rights Commission and the Mau Mau War Veterans Association. In that case, five claimants initiated proceedings against the Government, although two of these did not proceed. The remaining 5,225 did not issue a claim and their claims were dealt with outside of court. A further set of proceedings have been issued in respect of 20 claimants represented by Tandem Law. An application has been made to the High Court to make these claims the subject of a Group Litigation Order.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials at what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers in his Department.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has two full-time positions which support the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague)’s three special advisers: one band A member of staff (administrative officer equivalent) and one band B member (executive officer equivalent).
	These civil servants provide administrative support of a non-political nature, in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Palestinians

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent economic progress being made in the West Bank; and what steps the Government is taking to support and encourage further progress in this area.

Hugh Robertson: Economic growth in the West Bank and Gaza declined from an average of 11% in 2010-11 to 6% in 2012 and has fallen further in 2013 (3% in Quarter 1). Unemployment remains persistently high, especially youth unemployment which hovers around one-third in the West Bank.
	Through the Department for International Development (DFID) the UK provides direct budget support to the Palestinian Authority, increasing the UK's existing £122 million bilateral commitment by a further £7.5 million this autumn. The UK is also supporting the private sector through DFID's new £15.3 million Palestinian Market Development programme.

Syria

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure that conflict in Syria does not destabilise Lebanon and its political system.

Hugh Robertson: The UK is fully committed to supporting Lebanon's stability in the face of the challenges posed by the Syrian conflict. I reiterated our support when I met the caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on 16 October. We are encouraging the Lebanese parties to engage in dialogue and agree urgently a new consensual government.
	The UK has more than tripled both our humanitarian and security assistance to Lebanon this year. We are now providing £69 million to support refugees and host communities in Lebanon, in addition to our contribution through the EU and international organisations. We are also providing £14 million in assistance to the Lebanese armed forces, including to protect the country's border with Syria.
	We are encouraging the rest of the international community to follow suit in terms of increasing assistance to Lebanon. We have therefore strongly encouraged the establishment of an International Support Group for Lebanon and took part in its inaugural meeting in New York on 25 September.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Cold Weather Payments

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much has been spent on cold weather payments in each year since the introduction of such payments;
	(2)  how much has been spent on winter fuel allowance in each year since the introduction of the allowance.

Steve Webb: The requested information for Great Britain is published at the following URL:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-expenditure-tables
	To access the data, click on the link to the latest version of "Benefit and Expenditure Caseload Tables" and then click on the link to "Medium-term forecast for all DWP benefits".
	Expenditure information, both nominal and real terms, for Cold Weather Payments can be found in the Benefit Expenditure tables in the tab labelled Social Fund.
	Expenditure information, both nominal and real terms, for Winter Fuel Payments can be found in the Benefit Expenditure tables in the tab labelled 1A (Nominal Terms) and in the tab labelled 1B (Cash Terms, 2013-14 prices).
	Spending in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Office.

Crisis Loans

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the number of local authorities which have contracted out the provision of crisis loans to the private sector.

Steve Webb: Crisis Loans are not administered by local authorities. From 1 April 2013, Crisis Loans were abolished, and funding transferred to English local authorities and the Scottish and Welsh governments, to deliver new local welfare provision. The new provision allows local authorities to deliver tailored, flexible support to those in greatest need based on detailed knowledge of the issues they are facing in their communities. This funding is now therefore better targeted than the previous, more remote, centralised system.
	While the locally based support will continue to provide those in need with help when it is most needed, it will be for the local authority to decide on how that support is delivered to best meet an individual's needs.
	We do not hold information about how many local authorities have contracted out their services.

Disability: Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to publish performance data from the Work Choice programme.

Esther McVey: Official Statistics on Work Choice are published on a quarterly basis, and have been since May 2012. These can be found at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/work-choice-statistics-number-of-starts-and-referrals--2
	This latest publication contains information on referrals, starts and job outcomes up to 30 June 2013 and can be found at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/229350/work-choice-statistics-august-2013.pdf

Disability: Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have started on the Work Choice programme since its inception; and how many were referred by (a) his Department's specialist disability advisers, (b) other jobcentre advisers, (c) advisers in the NHS and (d) advisers in a local authority.

Esther McVey: Since the start of the programme (and up to 30 June 2013), 54,000 people have started on the Work Choice programme.
	Information on the source of the Work Choice referral is not available.

Disability: Employment Schemes

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people have been placed on the Work Programme without any remuneration to date.

Esther McVey: As with all other claimant groups disabled people continue to receive the benefit they are entitled to, and are already in receipt of, when they are placed on the Work Programme.

Food Banks: Voucher Schemes

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2013, Official Report, column 921W, on food banks: voucher schemes, which organisations his Department consulted in designing the New Food Bank Signposting Slip issued by Jobcentre Plus staff to clients; and when each was consulted.

Esther McVey: The change made to our Signposting Slip was of a minor nature and therefore it was not deemed necessary to consult. The operation of food banks is not the responsibility of this Department.

Low Pay

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were classified as working poor in each of the last three years.

Esther McVey: Estimates of the number of people in relative low income by economic status of the household are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series.
	The table shows the number of people in relative low income (income below 60% of contemporary median income Before Housing Costs (BHC)) from 2009-10 to 2011-12, which is the latest year for which data are available.
	It should be highlighted that the increase in the number of people in poverty living in households with some work seen in the table is largely explained by a growing employed population. The total number of individuals in households with some work has increased from 44.9 million to 46.1 million from 2009-10 to 2011-12.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of people in relative low income (BHC), by household economic status, UK, 2009-10 to 2011-12 
			 Million 
			   All adults in work At least one adult in work, but not all Workless households In work Out of work Total 
			 Individuals 2009-10 1.8 3.0 5.5 4.9 5.5 10.3 
			  2010-11 1.9 2.8 5.1 4.7 5.1 9.8 
			  2011-12 2.0 3.2 4.7 5.1 4.7 9.8 
			         
			 Children 2009-10 0.5 1.0 1.1 1.5 1.1 2.6 
			  2010-11 0.5 0.9 0.9 1.4 0.9 2.3 
			  2011-12 0.6 1.0 0.7 1.5 0.7 2.3 
			         
			 Working Age Adults 2009-10 1.2 2.0 2.5 3.2 2.5 5.7 
			  2010-11 1.3 1.8 2.4 3.1 2.4 5.5 
			  2011-12 1.3 2.1 2.2 3.4 2.2 5.6 
			         
			 Pensioners 2009-10 0.1 0.1 1.9 0.2 1.9 2.1 
			  2010-11 0.1 0.1 1.9 0.2 1.9 2.0 
		
	
	
		
			  2011-12 0.1 0.1 1.7 0.2 1.7 1.9 
			 Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Relative low income sets the threshold as a proportion of the median income, and moves each year as median income moves. It is used to measure the number and proportion of individuals who have incomes a certain proportion below the median. Someone is considered to be in relative low-income if they live in a household whose income is below 60% of median income for all households. 3. BHC refers to income before housing costs have been deducted: Housing costs include; rent (gross of housing benefit); water rates, community water charges and council water charges; mortgage interest payments; structural insurance premiums (for owner occupiers); ground rent and service charges. 4. A household is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal together or share the living accommodation. A household will consist of one or more benefit units. 5. Adults are defined as all those individuals who are aged 16 and over, unless defined as a dependent child. 6. A dependent child is defined as an individual aged under 16. A person will also be defined as a child if they are 16 to 19 years old and they are not married nor in a Civil Partnership nor living with a partner; and living with parents; and in full-time non-advanced education or in unwaged Government training. 7. The State Pension age is currently 65 for men. For women born on or before 5 April 1950, State Pension age is 60. From 6 April 2010, the State Pension age for women born on or after 6 April 1950 is increasing gradually. A pensioner is defined as a person of State Pension age or above. 8. Workless households are those where no-one aged 16 or over is in employment. 9. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences, particularly at the bottom of the income distribution, should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 10. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. 11. Population estimates are rounded to the nearest 100,000. Source: HBAI 2009-10 to 2011-12

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of those households affected by the benefit cap where someone has moved into work, how many include individuals who are working (a) fewer than 16 hours, (b) between 16 hours and 30 hours and (c) over 30 hours a week.

Esther McVey: Official Statistics on the number of households affected by the benefit cap where someone has moved into work are not available.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households (a) in and (b) outside London were affected by the benefit cap up to 31 October 2013; and how many of those households were living in (i) temporary accommodation, (ii) the private rented sector and (iii) social housing.

Esther McVey: Official Statistics on the number of households affected by the benefit cap up to September 2013 are published on 7 November 2013 and are available from 9.30 am. These statistics are available at regional and GB level and are found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-cap-statistics
	Information on the number of households to whom the benefit cap has been applied split by temporary accommodation, private sector and social housing is not available.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) all benefit claimants, (b) homeless recipients of jobseeker's allowance and (c) homeless recipients of employment and support allowance were sanctioned between May and July 2013.

Esther McVey: The information needed to provide the proportion of benefit claimants sanctioned between May and July 2013 has not yet been released as National Statistics.
	However, the number of jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) and employment and support allowance (ESA) sanctions up to June 2013 is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions
	Data for income support lone parents (ISLP) sanctions up to June 2013 will be available from 13 November 2013 at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/income-support-lone-parent-regime-figures-on-sanctions-and-work-focused-interviews--2
	Information on homeless benefit recipients is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

UK Membership of EU

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make an assessment of the potential effects on UK employment of a decision for the UK to leave the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) provided the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds), on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Acid Rain

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the levels of acid rain were in each year for which data is available.

Dan Rogerson: Monitored levels of acid rain are available on the Government's air quality data website:
	http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/
	I have also placed in the House Library a copy of the results for all currently operating acid deposition monitoring sites and, where site moves have been necessary for operational reasons, the predecessor site.

Air Pollution

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he intends to publish his Department's response to the Local Air Quality Management delivery in England consultation.

Dan Rogerson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 November 2013, Official Report, column 644W.

Coastal Areas

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if the Government will make a commitment to funding the England Coast Path project;
	(2)  what the completion date is for the England Coast Path project.

Dan Rogerson: The Government is continuing the programme to deliver coastal access around the English coast but we have not set a timetable for completion of the coastal path. We will be implementing coastal access step-by-step by tailoring the amount of activity to the resources available and will be applying the lessons that we have learnt to make sure it offers value for money.

Dangerous Dogs

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were subject to proceedings in a magistrate's court for offences under the Dogs Act 1871 in 2012; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: The following table provides details of prosecutions and convictions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 for 2012. The 1989 Act is the legislation under which people are proceeded against for breaching an order made under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871.
	
		
			 Defendants proceeded against at magistrates court and offenders found guilty at all courts under S.1(3) Dangerous Dogs Act 1989(1), England and Wales, 2012(2,3) 
			 Statute Offence description Proceeded against Found Guilty 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 S.1(3) Failure to comply with control order made under Dogs Act 1871 S.2 109 41 
			 (1) Also includes the following offences: Dangerous Dogs Act 1989,1(3) Failing to comply with destruction order made under Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 s1(1)(a) Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, 1(6) Having custody of dog in breach of disqualification order Dogs Act 1871, S2 Owning dangerous dog not kept under control (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

Drinking Water

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the purity of bottled water sold in the UK.

George Eustice: All bottled drinking water produced in compliance with regulatory requirements in the UK, is safe to drink.
	Waters marketed as 'natural mineral water' or 'spring water' must originate from a natural, protected and specific underground source, be bottled at source, be free from pathogenic bacteria and microbiologically safe to drink from source to exploitation, during bottling and throughout marketing, without the need for any treatment.
	Any assessment of the purity of all types of bottled water sold in the UK is the responsibility of Enforcement Authority Officials.
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has responsibility for the assessment of any application made in England for the 'recognition' (chemical and microbiological assessment against catchment area) of a natural mineral water source located in a non-EEA country under Directive 2009/54 EC:
	http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:164:0045:0058:EN:PDF
	and may also be called upon to review decisions made by the Enforcement Authority Officials in relation to any withdrawal of authorised treatments for natural mineral waters.
	The Food Standards Agency has a similar role for assessment of any application made in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland for recognition of a natural mineral water source located in a non-EEA country under Directive 2009/54 EC.
	There have not been any product recalls caused by safety concerns for bottled water reported to the Food Standards Agency since 2004.

Drinking Water

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential improvements to water quality from water filtering within households.

Dan Rogerson: It is a legal requirement in the UK for water at the tap to be wholesome, clean and suitable for domestic purposes (drinking, cooking and washing). The results of monitoring published by the independent drinking water regulators for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales show that tap water quality in the UK is equivalent to the best in Europe. As the quality of drinking water in the UK is already at a very high standard it is not necessary for consumers to install water treatment devices within their homes; any decision to do so is considered a matter of consumer choice.

Drinking Water: Contamination

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of drinking water supplies being contaminated occurred in each year for which data are available; and what the location of each such incident was.

Dan Rogerson: Whenever a water supply event occurs in the UK that might lead to contaminated drinking water being supplied to consumers, it is a legal duty of the water company to notify the independent drinking water quality regulator. All events are investigated and action taken immediately to safeguard consumers. Details of the number, nature and location of all significant drinking water quality events are published each year in the annual drinking water quality reports of the Drinking Water Inspectorate (England and Wales), the Drinking Water Quality Regulator (Scotland) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (Northern Ireland).
	The record of all prosecutions of water companies since 1990 for the offence of supplying water unfit for human consumption (s70 of the Water Industry Act 1991) in England and Wales can be found on the Drinking Water Inspectorate's website.

EU Institutions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many visits Ministers from his Department made to either the European Commission or the European Parliament in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA Ministers have made frequent visits to the European Commission and European Parliament since 2010, and continue to do so. The details of these visits are not held centrally; it would be of disproportionate cost to provide this information.

Exhaust Emissions: Motor Vehicles

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of pollutants from motor vehicles over the past 30 years.

Dan Rogerson: I have placed a table containing the emissions from motor vehicles of those pollutants that are quantified in the House Library. The data covers the 30 year period from 1981 to 2011 (the most recent year for which data is available). Emissions from motor vehicles refer to road vehicles, and exclude trains, shipping and aircraft. Data on emissions of some pollutants are only available from 1990.

Farms: Plastics

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tons of identifiable farm waste plastics were exported from England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dan Rogerson: Specific information on the volumes of farm waste plastics that have been exported from England is not measured, therefore we do not hold these figures.

Farms: Plastics

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many exporters of identifiable farm waste plastics have been prosecuted in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has not carried out any prosecutions for illegal export of farm waste plastics.

Farms: Waste Disposal

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) the Environment Agency and (b) other Government bodies investigate and bring charges against illegal exporters of farm waste.

Dan Rogerson: The UK competent authorities (the Environment Agency for England, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency) carry out joint intelligence-led inspections and investigations, enabling cross-border multi-agency sharing of intelligence, techniques and skills. The agencies also work to improve business awareness of the controls that apply to the export of waste. Their work has led to them stopping a number of illegal shipments and taking enforcement action against offenders.

Fisheries: British Overseas Territories

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make an assessment of the potential costs and benefits for the fishing industry in (a) the Falkland Islands and (b) other overseas territories of a decision for the UK to leave the EU; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W, to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds). The Department has not made any plans for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Fracking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provisions are in place to cover financial liabilities arising from environmental damage and civil claims associated with shale gas exploration should a shale gas operator be declared bankrupt.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
	In the case of installations, covered by the Industrial Emissions Directive and waste and mining waste operations, financial competence checks are made at the permitting stage and the Environment Agency will only issue a permit if it believes the operator is capable of meeting the obligations of the permit. Financial competence is considered at the compliance assessment stage for installations, waste operations, mining waste operations; as well as for water discharge and groundwater activities. Financial guarantees are also required for certain types of facilities, such as a hazardous waste facility, under the Mining Waste Directive.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the devolved Administrations on the introduction of a single regulatory framework covering laboratory safety for genetically modified organisms.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA is in regular contact with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on matters concerning the regulatory regime for the contained use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). As the lead authority the HSE is responsible for liaison with the devolved Administrations. The current focus in this area is a plan to consolidate the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 and the three sets of amending regulations. A single regulatory framework for the contained use of GMOs and human and animal pathogens remains a longer term objective.

Ground Water: Pollution

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of ground water pollution his Department recorded in each year for which data is available.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency receives reports of over 23,000 incidents of pollution to land, air and water each year. These are recorded on the National Incident Recording System.
	The Environment Agency is unable to provide the number of pollution incidents that involve groundwater only due to disproportionate cost. However, details of reported pollution incidents for water are:
	
		
			  Number of water pollution incidents 
			 2010 9,661 
			 2011 9,577 
			 2012 9,238 
			 2013 (January to end March) 2,369 
			 2013 (April to date (England only)) 4,523 
			 Note: Figures are provided for England and Wales except where specified. Source: National Incident Recording System

Ministerial Policy Advisors

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials at what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers in his Department.

Dan Rogerson: Two officials provide support to special advisers in DEFRA. As has been the practice under successive Administrations, and as set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, Departments may provide civil servants to support special advisers, in order to enable special advisers to work effectively.

Pesticides

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many pounds of pesticides have been used in the UK in each year for which data is available.

Dan Rogerson: Information on the use of plant protection products in agriculture and horticulture in the UK is collected through a rolling programme of pesticide usage surveys. Published reports of 2012 surveys of arable crops, orchards and soft fruit showed a total pesticide usage on these crops of 15,853.91 tonnes in the UK (information on weight is collected, and hence expressed, in kilograms (kg)). GB survey reports and data (and from 2010 consolidated data for the UK) are published on the Food and Environment Research Agency's website.

Pesticides

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to monitor the levels of pesticides in (a) food grown and consumed in the UK and (b) imported food.

Dan Rogerson: As part of the EU regulatory framework for pesticides, statutory Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) are set on an EU wide basis under EC Regulation 396/2005. They apply to all foods that are placed on the EU market, irrespective of whether they have been produced inside or outside the EU. The MRLs reflect the highest amount of pesticide residue expected in food when pesticides are applied correctly in accordance with authorised conditions of use. It is important to note that MRLs are not safety limits, and are always set below, often far below, the safety limit.
	Farmers and growers, importers, distributors and retailers are responsible for ensuring marketed food complies with all statutory MRLs set, and there is a substantial Government programme of testing for residues in food and drink to check this. The UK programme is overseen by the independent Expert Scientific Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF). All the results from the residues monitoring programme together with supporting material, and annual reports of the Committee, can be found on the Committee's website at:
	http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/advisory-groups/PRiF
	This monitoring also contributes to specific EU monitoring surveys, and the EU results are published annually by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
	In addition, imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin, from certain non-EU countries, that are considered to be ‘high-risk' can only enter the UK through specific ports and airports approved as designated points of entry (DPEs) where official controls will be carried out by local authority enforcement officers. A list of the ‘high-risk' products, country of origin and the frequency of checks can be found at Annex I of Commission Regulation (EC) 669/2009, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 925/2013 of 25 September 2013.

Pesticides: Poisoning

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of people being poisoned by pesticides his Department recorded in each year for which data is available.

Dan Rogerson: Information on human health effects of pesticides is gathered on an annual basis from three main sources: the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP), the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) and the Human Health Enquiry and Incident Survey (HHEIS). Overall annual figures for the number of cases of poisoning do not exist and could be created only at disproportionate cost.
	PIAP reports on incidents and complaints involving pesticides investigated by HSE. Data from PIAP reports can be found on HSE's website.
	HHEIS reports on the requirement for authorisation holders for products to provide details of all human health related reports or enquiries involving their products. The results are also published on HSE's website.
	NPIS provides an inquiry service for health professionals and data on inquiries for pesticides is reported. To preserve patient confidentiality, these data are not published in detail. NPIS grades all exposures using the poisoning severity score (PSS). The scores applied are None (no symptoms or signs); Minor (mild, transient and spontaneously resolving symptoms or signs); Moderate (pronounced or prolonged symptoms or signs); Severe (severe or life threatening symptoms or signs); and Fatal. Most fatalities are associated with self-harm, and none resulted from authorised use of the pesticide.
	
		
			 NPIS severity grades during 2010-13 for acute unintentional pesticide exposures in adults 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 NPIS severity grade (PSS) Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
			 None 143 30.3 151 29.4 127 32.6 
			 Minor 276 58.5 293 57.1 224 57.4 
			 Moderate 41 8.7 49 9.6 23 5.9 
			 Severe 2 0.4 1 0.2 2 0.5 
			 Fatal 1 0.2 1 0.2 0 0 
			 Uncertain 9 1.9 18 3.5 14 3.6 
			 Total 472 — 513 1 390 — 
			 Source: HSE 
		
	
	
		
			 NPIS severity grades during 2010-13 for acute unintentional pesticide exposures in children 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 NPIS severity grade (PSS) Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
			 None 513 86.8 424 84.0 466 85.7 
			 Minor 65 10.9 71 14.1 61 11.2 
			 Moderate 2 0.3 5 1.0 4 0.7 
			 Severe 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 0.2 
			 Fatal 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 
			 Uncertain 11 1.9 5 1.0 12 2.2 
			 Total 591 — 505 — 544 — 
			 Source: HSE

Plastics: Exports

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the amount of commercial plastic that is being illegally exported.

Dan Rogerson: Neither DEFRA nor the Environment Agency has made any such estimate. The very nature of illegal waste exports means that those involved in this activity seek to avoid detection, and this makes it difficult to provide an accurate assessment of the volume illegally exported from the UK.

Sugar

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the safety of date sugar as a substitute for sugar cane for use in the production of food and drinks products; and what quantity of date sugar has been imported in each year since 2003.

Jane Ellison: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Health.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is not aware of any food safety concerns raised about date sugar.
	The FSA is not aware that any assessment has been made of food safety concerns about date sugar.
	Imported foodstuffs records are held by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in England. DEFRA has confirmed that it is not possible to provide import statistics specifically for date sugar because it is not separately reported under the trade statistics system.

Sunningdale Park

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how often his Department has used Sunningdale Park for Civil Service events since May 2010; what the nature of each such event was; and what the cost of each such event was.

Dan Rogerson: Following a review of learning and development across Government the National School of Government, which delivered training on the Sunningdale Park site, closed in March 2012.
	Any data we would have on attendance at such events for previous years are not held in a way that would enable us to answer this question other than at disproportionate cost.

Wells

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences for water wells the Environment Agency granted in each year for which data is available.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has granted 88 licences to abstract water from wells in England and Wales since 1996, as shown in the table. 55 of these licences are still in force.
	
		
			  Number of licences issued 
			 1996 9 
			 1997 8 
			 1998 12 
			 1999 12 
			 2000 9 
			 2001 9 
			 2002 9 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 12 
			 2005 9 
			 2006 14 
			 2007 4 
			 2008 24 
			 2009 2 
			 2010 17 
			 2011 3 
			 2012 3 
			 2013 (to date) 8 
			 Source: Environment Agency's National Abstraction Licence Database

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Brazil

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with multilateral funding agencies on support for anti-corruption and good governance programmes in Brazil.

Lynne Featherstone: As part of our regular discussions and exchange of information with multi-lateral partners in Brazil, we know of a number of programmes being implemented in the areas of good governance and anti-corruption. However as DFID does not have a bi-lateral programme in Brazil we do not directly support these initiatives.

British Overseas Territories

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make an assessment of the potential costs and benefits for British overseas territories in the areas for which she has responsibility of a decision for the UK to leave the EU; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: DFID has not made any such plans for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Developing Countries: Nutrition

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what will trigger the release of the matched funds pledged by the UK on 8 June 2013 at the Nutrition for Growth meeting; and whether release of UK funds is contingent on pledges from other countries or institutions, through a particular mechanism or by a certain date.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID's matched funds pledged for nutrition will be released if matched by new financial commitments, which meet certain conditions, made by other organisations. The new financial commitments must be for nutrition specific programmes, additional to existing spend, over and above any commitments made at the Nutrition for Growth event and spent before 2020. Funds will be matched at ratio of one DFID pound to two new pounds. New commitments could be made by existing donors, non-traditional donors or philanthropists, civil society organisations or businesses.

Languages

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff of her Department speak a second language other than English; what those languages are; and to what standard they speak them.

Justine Greening: DFID does not assess the language skills of its staff.

Security

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's role was in (a) the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010 and (b) the National Security Strategy 2010.

Justine Greening: I am a member of the National Security Council and the Cabinet, in which the strategic defence and security review and the national security strategy are decided.

Senior Civil Servants

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of staff in her Department are in the senior civil service grades; and how that proportion compares with other Departments.

Justine Greening: As of 30 September the percentage of senior civil servants within the home civil servant population of DFID was 5%.
	Details for other ministerial Departments can be found in the public domain at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-319802

Syria

Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) doctors and (b) other humanitarian aid workers are not prevented from carrying out their work in Syria. [R]

Justine Greening: Government restrictions, bureaucratic hurdles and the security situation have left many parts, of Syria cut off from medical assistance and medical professionals are unable to fulfil their duty to provide medical care to those who need it. At the UN General Assembly, the UK called for action to implement the UN's proposals for unfettered humanitarian access inside Syria. This resulted in a Presidential Statement on the humanitarian situation in Syria which called for unhindered humanitarian access, lifting bureaucratic obstacles, granting visas/permits, assisting cross-border delivery and demilitarising schools and medical centres. We are working hard with our partners to achieve this.

Syria

Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to help prevent further spread of polio in Syria. [R]

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development following the reports of a polio outbreak in Syria, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that as many children as possible in that country are vaccinated.

Justine Greening: We are working with our partners including the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is supporting a targeted immunisation campaign against Polio in the priority zones in Syria, with a multi-phase campaign under preparation. Access is key and the UK has been leading the call for full unhindered humanitarian access and will continue to push for this and for specific measures to be taken to allow rapid scale-up.

Syria

Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the humanitarian implications of the recent outbreak of polio in Syria. [R]

Justine Greening: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has so far confirmed 10 cases of Wild Polio Virus and there are a further 12 suspected cases. The UK Government is in discussion with the WHO-led ‘Emergency Response Team’ established specifically for this purpose on how to do this.

Syria

Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to encourage a humanitarian ceasefire in Syria. [R]

Justine Greening: At the UN General Assembly, the UK called for action to implement the UN's proposals for unfettered humanitarian access inside Syria. This resulted in a Presidential Statement on the humanitarian situation in Syria which called for a humanitarian ceasefire as well as unhindered humanitarian access, lifting bureaucratic obstacles, granting visas/permits, assisting cross-border delivery and demilitarising schools and medical centres. This must now be implemented and a UN High Level Group led by Baroness Amos is being established to oversee this.

Syria

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will assess the effect of events in Syria on the capacity for development of the Governments of Jordan and Lebanon.

Justine Greening: In Jordan 70% of refugees from Syria are estimated to live outside refugee camps. In Lebanon, there are no refugee camps; all refugees are living with host communities or in informal settlements.
	In both countries this is causing a severe strain on local and national services.

Syria

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect of the short-term demands of the Syrian crisis on the long-term obligations to support from the UNWRA and other refugee organisations operating in the region.

Justine Greening: DFID is providing £106.5 million between 2011-15 to support UNRWA's long-term obligations. DFID has also separately supported UNRWA's appeal for the Syria crisis with over £20 million.

Syria

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect of the situation in Syria on the agriculture industry in Jordan.

Justine Greening: Agriculture is estimated to account for around 3% of Jordan's GDP and 2.7% of employment. We continue to engage with the Jordanian Government and other partners to assess the impact on the country as a whole and discuss how the UK can best support responding to the refugee situation.

Syria

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the World Health Organisation on providing full-scale and nationwide response to polio in Syria.

Justine Greening: We are working with our partners including the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is supporting a targeted immunisation campaign against Polio in the priority zones in Syria, with a multi-phase campaign under preparation. Access is key and the UK has been leading the call for full unhindered humanitarian access and will continue to push for this and for specific measures to be taken to allow rapid scale-up.

Termination of Employment

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff have left her Department since 2010; for which units they worked; and what effect their departure has had on the Department's capacity to deliver.

Justine Greening: The following table shows the number of staff from each director general command that have left the Department since 2010.
	
		
			 Director general command Staff 
			 Country programmes 436 
			 Policy and global programmes 458 
			 Finance and corporate performance 189 
			 Top management group 33 
			 Total 1,116 
		
	
	DFID continually monitors staff turnover and has recruitment strategies in place to ensure that the Department is always in a position to deliver aid effectively.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Richard Haass

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings she has had with Dr Richard Haass to discuss (a) ongoing parade disputes, (b) legacy of the past and (c) flags and emblems to date.

Theresa Villiers: I have met Dr Haass and his team on three occasions and have also spoken to him by telephone. Additionally, my officials have met Dr Haass and members of his team on a number of occasions. The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister also met Dr Haass on 17 October 2013.

UK Membership of EU

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment the Balances of Competences review has made of the effect of EU membership on Northern Ireland.

Theresa Villiers: This review is an objective analysis of evidence, looking at how the balance of competences with the EU impacts on the UK as a whole. The three devolved Administrations have been invited to contribute evidence, and have done so, as have stakeholders from across the UK. Where there are regional variations in the impact of EU competence, they make note of these with relevant evidence published alongside.

UK Membership of EU

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the effect on Northern Ireland of a referendum on EU membership.

Theresa Villiers: The Government has not made an assessment of the effect on Northern Ireland of a referendum on EU membership.

TREASURY

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the number of families in each region who will benefit from the tax-free childcare policy.

David Gauke: The information requested is not available.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of families using childcare vouchers whose income is (i) £0-9,999, (ii) £10,000-19,999, (iii) £20,000-29,999, (iv) £30,000-39,999, (v) £40,000-49,999, (vi) £50,000-59,999, (vii) £60,000-69,999, (viii) £70,000-79,999, (ix) £80,000-89,999, (x) £90,000-99,999 and (xi) £100,000-149,999.

David Gauke: The information requested is not available.

Corporation Tax

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate HM Revenue and Customs made of the number of companies liable for corporation tax in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13;
	(2)  how many companies were sent a corporation tax return for an accounting period ending in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13;
	(3)  to how many companies HM Revenue and Customs made the decision not to send a request for a corporation tax return in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs sends a notice to file a company tax return to every company which it believes is within the charge to Corporation Tax.
	Notices were sent to the following number of companies in respect of accounting periods ending in the years shown:
	
		
			  Number of companies (thousand) 
			 2009-10 1,931 
			 2010-11 1,887 
			 2011-12 1,880 
			 2012-13 1,916 
		
	
	This represents HMRC's estimate of the number of companies that might be within the charge to Corporation Tax.

Corporation Tax

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the companies sent a request to submit a corporation tax return in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13 submitted the return (i) within the required time limit and (ii) late.

David Gauke: The position as at end of September 2013 was:
	
		
			 Thousand 
			  Number of companies 
			 Year of accounting period end date Return filed within the time limit Return filed late 
			 2009-10 1,374 110 
			 2010-11 1,441 96 
			 2011-12 1,537 72 
			 2012-13 1,103 15 
		
	
	Some companies requested to file a return for accounting periods ending in these years had not reached the filing deadline by the end of September 2013. This affected over 700,000 companies in 2012-13 and about 1,000 companies for earlier years.

Corporation Tax

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies were sent form CT41G by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; how many such forms were returned in each such year; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The number of companies sent form CT41G by HM Revenue and Customs in the relevant years was:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2009-10 353,097 
			 2010-11 447,530 
			 2011-12 474,335 
			 2012-13 509,533 
		
	
	HMRC does not count the number of CT41Gs returned. Companies supply the required information in a variety of ways, not always using the form. There is now an online registration service that companies can use.

Corporation Tax

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs takes to make sure that companies that were not sent a request for a corporation tax return and which were not recorded as dormant do not owe corporation tax; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC does not require dormant companies, or companies that are otherwise outside the charge to tax (for example, charities), to file a company tax return because this would give rise to wasteful costs for companies and HMRC. The Department does, however, deploy an increasingly sophisticated range of risk assessment tools, including IT systems such as Connect, with real time information from banks and credit card companies, to manage the risk that a company is active and has failed to notify chargeability. The tax status of all companies that have not been asked to file a company tax return is reviewed at least every five years. HMRC may issue a notice to file a company tax return to any company at any time if it judges there is a risk that they may have failed to notify that they are within the charge to tax.

Corporation Tax

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations HM Revenue and Customs has undertaken of companies to whom requests for corporation tax returns were not made in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; what sums were raised as a result of those investigations in each such year; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC does not separately identify these figures.
	If HMRC believes a company may have tax to pay, or transactions relevant for tax purposes, it requests a return. HMRC's power of investigation relates to company tax returns.

Corporation Tax

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies were issued with penalty notices as a result of failure to submit a corporation tax return on time in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The number of companies issued with penalty notices as a result of their failure to submit a company tax return on time in the relevant years was:
	
		
			  Number of companies 
			 2009-10 371,590 
		
	
	
		
			 2010-11 262,885 
			 2011-12 241,954 
			 2012-13 215,355 
		
	
	Companies have been counted a maximum of once in each year, regardless of the number of penalty notices issued to the company in one year.

Corporation Tax

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of penalty notices issued in respect of the failure by companies to submit their corporation tax returns on time was in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13.

David Gauke: The value of the penalty notices issued in respect of the failure by companies to submit their Company Tax Returns on time in the relevant years was:
	
		
			  Value of penalty notices issued (£) 
			 2009-10 250,720,294 
			 2010-11 376,799,018 
			 2011-12 164,105,964 
			 2012-13 154,402,450 
		
	
	The value includes all late filing penalties recorded by HMRC in each year, with no adjustment made for those which were later amended, cancelled or remitted. Both flat rate and tax related penalties have been included.

Corporation Tax

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what value of penalties due by companies for failing to submit a corporation tax return was outstanding at the end of (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13.

David Gauke: The cumulative amounts of penalties imposed but not paid were:
	
		
			  Total penalties outstanding at the year end (£) 
			 2009-10 141,483,787 
			 2010-11 127,718,683 
			 2011-12 136,962,755 
			 2012-13 140,334,218 
		
	
	These figures are cumulative. Penalties outstanding in one year which are still outstanding in later years are included in the figure for each year.

Corporation Tax

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of penalty notices issued for the non-submission of corporation tax returns written off as irrecoverable in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The value of late filing penalties remitted as irrecoverable in each of the relevant years was:
	
		
			  Total penalties remitted (£) 
			 2009-10 90,797,705 
			 2010-11 99,782,885 
			 2011-12 58,826,526 
		
	
	
		
			 2012-13 53,412,825 
		
	
	The value of late filing penalties remitted as irrecoverable in a year relates to penalties issued in the year and in earlier years.

Economic Growth: Greater London

Graham Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the proportion of GDP which is generated through economic activity in Greater London.

Nicky Morgan: The Office for National Statistics publishes annual estimates for regional and sub-regional gross value added (GVA); on 12 December 2012 they published provisional estimates for 2011. Between 1997 and 2009 the proportion of UK GVA attributable to London rose to 21.4% from 18.5%. In 2010 and 2011 the proportion declined by 0.2 and 0.1 percentage points respectively, to reach 21.1% respectively.

Economic Situation

Graham Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the geographical balance of the UK economy; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: Returning the UK economy to sustainable economic growth that is more balanced across the UK and sectors is a key priority. Every locality must be able to fulfil its potential by taking responsibility for decisions and resources that affect their local economies. The Government has already taken action, including:
	Promoting the establishment of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs)—39 strategic partnerships between local business leaders, local authority leaders and other partners;
	Allowing the local retention of business rates—incentivising local areas to prioritise growth and keep 50% of the proceeds;
	Creating the Growing Places Fund and the Regional Growth Fund—providing support to businesses, LEPs and local authorities for local projects and programmes;
	Introducing City Deals—negotiating bespoke deals with cities and their LEPs to give them the powers and tools they need to drive local economic growth;
	Establishing Enterprise Zones—areas around the country that support both new and expanding businesses by offering incentives, creating local jobs and growth; and
	Removing £7 billion of ring-fences from local government at spending review 2010.

Financial Conduct Authority

Graham Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Financial Conduct Authority is responsible for regulating the activities of an unregulated income fund.

Sajid Javid: Unregulated collective investment schemes (UCIS) are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and are not subject to the same restrictions as a regulated collective investment scheme (CIS). Although the schemes themselves are not regulated, persons carrying on regulated activities in the UK in relation to a UCIS, including establishing, operating and managing UCIS, are subject to FCA regulation.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to reply to the letter dated 16 August 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Robin Right, transferred by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 29 August 2013.

David Gauke: I have replied to the right hon. Member.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials at what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers in his Department.

David Gauke: Fewer than five officials provide direct support to special advisers in the Department.

Taxation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what value of the VAT owing by companies was written-off as a bad debt by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many companies made PAYE contributions in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; how many companies' total payment was less than (i) £10,000, (ii) £20,000, (iii) £30,000, (iv) £40,000 and (v) £50,000 in each such year; what the total monetary value was of payments in each such band in each such year; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what value of PAYE owing by companies was written off as bad debt by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: This information is not available centrally, and could be researched only at disproportionate cost.
	However, Table 7.2 on page 168 of HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) 2012-13 Annual Accounts sets out the overall amounts of revenue that HMRC remitted and wrote off in 2011-12 and 2012-13. The HMRC Annual Accounts are available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-and-accounts-2012-13--3

Taxation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate is included in his tax gap calculations for (a) corporation tax, (b) PAYE and (c) VAT in each year from 2007-08 to 2011-12 in respect of companies struck from the Register of Companies without filing corporation tax returns, PAYE returns, VAT returns or accounts due to HM Revenue and Customs in each such year; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate HM Revenue and Customs has made of the value of the revenue foregone in relation to (a) corporation tax, (b) income tax, (c) national insurance contributions, (d) VAT and (e) other taxes as a result of companies being struck from the Register of Companies in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many notices of intention to strike a company from the Register of Companies HM Revenue and Customs received in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; to how many such notices they objected in each such year; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how much revenue was subsequently raised from companies where objections to striking-off had been issued by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC is notified directly by Companies House where there is the intention to strike a company off the register. HMRC objects to strike-off where there is tax outstanding or in dispute.
	The number of notices of intention to strike a company from the Register of Companies received by HM Revenue and Customs in the relevant years was:
	
		
			  Number of notices 
			 2009-10 314,445 
			 2010-11 343,727 
			 2011-12 382,849 
			 2012-13 403,700 
		
	
	The number of notices of intention to strike a company from the Register of Companies to which HMRC raised an objection in the relevant years was:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2009-10 (1)— 
			 2010-11(2) 33,541 
			 2011-12 111,136 
			 2012-13 121,711 
			 (1) Information not available pre 13 August 2010. (2) Information available from 13 August 2010. 
		
	
	The loss of tax from companies struck off the register is largely due to company insolvency. The tax gap estimates for non-payment includes tax lost due to insolvency.
	HMRC do not separately estimate the tax gap due to companies being struck off, However, the HMRC Trust Statement contains figures for tax remitted each year. Around 90% of the amounts remitted relate to insolvencies.

VAT

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies were VAT-registered in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; how much net VAT was paid by those companies in each such year by the most detailed HM Revenue and Customs reporting band available; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: Information on VAT-registered traders, broken down by their trader status (e.g. company, sole proprietor, partnership etc), is published annually in tables 2.8 and 2.9 of the VAT Statistical Factsheet on the UK Trade Statistics website:
	https://uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutybulletins.aspx
	No further breakdowns by reporting bands are available on the amount of net VAT declared by companies.

VAT: Sixth Form Colleges

John Woodcock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of VAT paid by sixth form colleges in each of the last three years.

David Gauke: No estimate has been made of the VAT paid by sixth form colleges in each of the last three years. The Government is carefully considering the position of sixth form colleges in relation to VAT.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Biofuels

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department will publish data from 2012-13 on the use of UK biomass for electricity and combined heat and power; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES), which the Department publishes each year, sets out the amount of UK biomass used to generate electricity (table 6.6) and in combined heat and power plants each year (table 7.2). Current data covers the calendar year 2012. The data for 2013 will be published in July 2014.
	Ofgem also publishes each year the data provided to it under sustainability reporting requirements for the renewables obligation (RO). Recent changes to the RO require information to be provided on the country of origin. The raw data for the year 2012-13 is expected to be published by 31 March 2014.

Electricity: Floods

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many electricity transmission and distribution faults occurred as a result of flooding in (a) each year since 2008 and (b) 2013 to date; what the length of each disruption was; what type of equipment was affected; how many customers were affected; and what the total customer minutes lost was.

Michael Fallon: The transmission system's overall reliability is 99.999% and hence flooding does not cause significant issues on the transmission networks.
	Similarly for Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) the loss of supply due to flooding is very small. Less than 0.1% of annual interruptions on the DNO networks are caused by flooding. Specific figures are set out as follows:
	
		
			   Total annual data Per interruption data 
			  Number of interruptions caused by flooding Total number of customers affected by these faults Total minutes lost from these faults (across all customers) Average number of customers impacted Average length of interruptions (minutes) 
			 2008-09 66 9,422 2,046,784 143 217 
			 2009-10 168 12,785 2,485,180 76 194 
			 2010-11 156 10,747 2,551,441 69 237 
			 2011-12 83 4,664 870,987 56 187 
			 2012-13 249 30,890 6,492,869 124 210

Electricity: Weather

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many electricity transmission and distribution faults occurred as a result of weather in (a) each year since 2008 and (b) 2013 to date; what the length of each disruption was; what type of equipment was affected; how many customers were affected; and what the total customer minutes lost was.

Michael Fallon: The specific number of transmission faults occurring as a result of weather is not recorded. These would be very small; the overall reliability of supply for the National Electricity Transmission System for the last three years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Overall reliability of supply for the National Electricity Transmission System 
			  Percentage 
			 2010-11 99.99969 
			 2011-12 99.99954 
			 2012-13 99.99975 
			 Source: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Industry-information/Electricity-transmission-operational-data/Report-explorer/Performance-Reports/ 
		
	
	Information on faults on the Distribution Network Operators' (DNO) networks due to weather is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Total annual data Per interruption data 
			  Number of interruptions caused by weather Total number of customers affected by these faults Total minutes lost from these faults (across all customers) Average number of customers impacted Average length of interruptions (minutes) 
			 2008-09 5,267 1,384,877 150,203,737 263 108 
			 2009-10 7,973 1,576,238 188,535,603 198 120 
			 2010-11 6,226 919,577 114,076,673 148 124 
			 2011-12 11,588 2,021,632 316,845,764 174 157 
			 2012-13 9,571 1,594,435 255,329,007 167 160 
			 Note: The interruptions included in the above include those reported as due to lightning, rain, snow and ice, fog and frost, wind and gale, solar heat.

Energy

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has changed energy suppliers for any of its buildings in the last 12 months.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has not changed energy suppliers for any of its buildings in the last 12 months.
	DECC buys its energy through a central energy contract negotiated by the Government Procurement Service (GPS). This uses a risk based approach to energy purchasing to bring about overall savings for Government.

Energy Supply

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that no consumer incurs charges when they change energy supplier.

Michael Fallon: No. Suppliers must be transparent with consumers about any costs that will be incurred when changing energy supplier. Ofgem has recently completed a thorough review of the retail energy market and introduced reforms so that consumers face simpler tariff choices, receive clearer information and are treated fairly. Under Ofgem's new rules suppliers will have to include key information about tariffs in a tariff information label, which will include any termination fee that suppliers charge on fixed term contracts. The tariff information label will appear on customers' bills and annual statements and marketing material about the tariff. Clearer information on termination fees will allow consumers to take them into account when they are considering switching.

Energy: Competition

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to promote competition in the energy market to ensure that consumers receive the tariff best suited to them.

Michael Fallon: Consumers will get the best deals when suppliers face tough competition and that is what both the Government and Ofgem are working to achieve.
	The Government is using the Energy Bill to give statutory backing to Ofgem's Retail Market Review measures which will ensure that energy companies place consumers on the cheapest tariff that meets their preferences and gives consumers clearer information so that they can more easily shop around.

Energy: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive about the cost of energy in Northern Ireland.

Michael Fallon: Energy policy, including the cost of energy, is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. DECC Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive about a range of energy issues.

Energy: Prices

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average increase in prices of (a) gas, (b) electricity and (c) home heating oil was in each year since 2007.

Michael Fallon: The following table shows the average year-on-year increase in fuel prices within the UK, for years since 2007:
	
		
			 Year-on-year price increases 
			 Percentage 
			  Current terms Real terms(1) 
			  Gas Electricity Domestic heating oil Gas Electricity Domestic heating oil 
			 2007-08 19 16 49 16 12 44 
			 2008-09 13 5 -30 11 2 -31 
			 2009-10 -6 -3 30 -8 -5 26 
			 2010-11 11 7 27 8 5 24 
		
	
	
		
			 2011-12 10 6 3 9 4 1 
			 (1) Price increases in real terms remove the effect of inflation. 
		
	
	These figures are based on the fuel components of the consumer prices index, produced by the Office for National Statistics. Domestic heating oil is comprised of kerosene only.
	The figures are sourced from the DECC publication Quarterly Energy Prices, in tables 2.1.1 and 2.2.2:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/monthly-domestic-energy-price-stastics

EU Energy Policy

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish his Department's analysis of the European Union energy market; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The UK Government strongly supports a well-functioning and competitive internal EU energy market. This will be important in maintaining secure supplies and competitive prices, supporting growth and jobs and in achieving our climate change targets in the most cost-effective way. Considerable progress has been made as a result of the implementation of the Third Package of internal energy market legislation, but more needs to be done. A range of initiatives are under way, including the development of EU-wide technical and market rules, the identification and facilitation of strategic energy infrastructure projects, and work to explore the feasibility of cross border renewables trading.

Fuel Oil

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to support people who rely mainly on home heating oil to heat their homes.

Michael Fallon: Energy efficiency, fuel poverty and heat policy in Northern Ireland are generally devolved matters for the Northern Ireland Executive.
	Since 2010, this Government has worked with the wider industry and consumer representatives to help them co-ordinate their Buy Oil Early campaign messages, and to provide guidance on setting up or joining consumer buying groups. A code of practice and customer charter has been circulated by the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers.
	The Fuel Poverty Advisory Group is developing recommendations on information sharing on vulnerable consumers. An Ofgem review will also consider connecting electricity and gas priority service registers to other markets, including heating oil.
	In addition, the Government provides assistance to the most vulnerable consumers in society to help with their heating bills throughout the coldest months by the warm home discount, winter fuel payment and cold weather payment.
	Energy efficiency is also of vital importance in tackling heating costs. The Green Deal provides a means for consumers to finance energy saving measures in their home, reducing the amount of fuel they need to buy. The energy company obligation (ECO) works alongside the Green Deal and is designed to encourage energy suppliers to install measures in the least energy efficient properties, many of which are off the gas network.
	Renewable heating systems can also help reduce heating costs. The Government is offering one-off grants towards the cost of these technologies under the renewable meat premium payments (RHPP) scheme. The RHPP is due to be replaced in spring 2014 by the domestic version of the renewable heat incentive, which is aimed at off-gas grid properties.

Green Deal Scheme

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the uptake on energy efficiency measures is by those households which have had a Green Deal assessment.

Gregory Barker: In response to your question about take-up of the Green Deal, up to the end of September there had been 85,177 Green Deal assessments lodged. DECC research published in September found that 56% of households that had an assessment between the start of April and end of June had at least one recommended measure installed, with a further 6% in the process and 19% saying they probably or definitely would install something.

Heating

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of homes in England are mainly heated by (a) gas, (b) electricity and (c) home heating oil.

Michael Fallon: It is estimated that in 2011, 83% of homes in the UK were mainly heated by gas, 8% by electricity and 4% by home heating oil.
	Estimates for the proportion of homes in the United Kingdom mainly heated by gas, electricity and home heating oil are based on ‘Table 3.16: Installed central heating by type in UK 1970-2011' of ‘Energy Consumption in the UK (2013)', which can be accessed here:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-consumption-in-the-uk
	The most recent data available is for 2011. Country level figures are not available.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2013, Official Report, column 273W, on Hinkley Point C Power Station, if he will make it his policy under the operational cost review arrangements that the strike price may not under any circumstances be subject to any further non-inflationary increases at any stage during the term of the contract.

Michael Fallon: The key commercial terms agreed with EDF in relation to the proposed investment contract for Hinkley Point C includes provisions whereby the strike price could be adjusted, up or down, in relation to operational and certain other costs. The Government believes this is the best way to provide a good deal for consumers, and meet its requirement for value for money, while providing a reasonable rate of return to the operator.

Natural Gas: Storage

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations his Department received on its decision not to intervene in the gas storage market.

Michael Fallon: The Department received representations from a wide range of interested parties, including: consumers; gas storage developers; gas storage operators; gas suppliers; gas producers; gas shippers; Ofgem and National Grid, as part of our review of potential interventions in the market.

Natural Gas: Weather

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many gas distribution faults occurred as a result of weather in (a) each year since 2008 and (b) 2013 to date; what the length of each disruption was; what type of equipment was affected; how many customers were affected; and what the total customer days lost was.

Michael Fallon: As the majority of the pipeline assets are underground, gas distribution customers are not affected directly by the weather.

Nuclear Fuels

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure the long-term future of nuclear fuel manufacturing in the UK.

Michael Fallon: The UK's fuel manufacturing capability has been developed and maintained since the earliest days of nuclear power, resulting in a level of fuel cycle expertise that few other countries can claim. The Springfields Fuels production facilities, near Preston, produce the unique design of fuel required by all the UK AGR reactors and will continue to do so well into the next decade.
	The Nuclear Industrial Strategy, and its supporting documents, set out both Government and Industry's aims to further develop the UK's fuel manufacturing capability up to 2050. This included working to establish a Nuclear Fuel Centre for Excellence as one of a number of complementary research facilities supporting the UK's nuclear sector.

Ofgem

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons Ofgem has not yet published its Annual Sustainability Report 2012-13; when Ofgem intends to publish that Report; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: Ofgem published this at the beginning of July 2013. The link to the report is as follows:
	https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/ofgem%E2%80%99s-annual-report-and-accounts-2012-13?docid=25&refer=About%20us/annlrprt

Oil: Exploration

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what records his Department holds on surveys on oil explorations in the Firth of Clyde in the 1980s.

Michael Fallon: The only information which DECC holds regarding surveys on oil explorations in the Firth of Clyde has already been published by DECC in response to a Freedom of Information request. The information can be found on the Government website via the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oil-gas-exploration-in-the-firth-of-clyde-foi-130568

Plutonium

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the costs of securing civilian stocks of plutonium have been in each of the last five years; and what estimate she has made of such costs in each of the next 10 years.

Michael Fallon: The costs of storing plutonium, both historically and for the future, have not been disclosed as they relate in part to commercial contracts with third parties. The Sellafield Plan contains a section entitled “Safe Storage of Pu” which provides information on this topic:
	http://www.sellafieldsites.com/publications/sellafieldplan/Sellafield_Plan.pdf

Recruitment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many new staff his Department has employed under (a) fixed-term contracts and (b) short-term contracts since May 2010.

Gregory Barker: In the period May 2010 to October 2013 the Department of Energy and Climate Change has employed (a) 136 new staff on fixed term contracts, and (b) 63 new staff on short-term contracts.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the regular armed forces killed during operations in Afghanistan who enlisted between 1999-2000 and 2008-09 were aged (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 years old or above at the time they enlisted.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence holds relevant information for the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 December 2012. Enlistment data prior to April 2007 is held on legacy systems and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	UK regular armed forces deaths on operations in Afghanistan among personnel who enlisted in calendar years 1999-2000 and in calendar years 2008-09, by age on enlistment, 1 April 2007 to 30 December 2012, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Age on enlistment Enlisted 1999-2000 Enlisted 2008-09 
			 16 10 4 
			 17 3 7 
			 18 and above 12 54 
			 Notes: 1. UK regular forces comprise trained and untrained personnel and exclude Gurkhas, full-time reserve service personnel and mobilised reservists. 2. Enlistment data may not accurately reflect in all cases an individual's initial enlistment to regular service. Entry data may, for example, include transfers from another Service or transfers from other ranks to officers.

Afghanistan

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the fatality rate in Afghanistan has been of soldiers, excluding Gurkhas, officers and reservists, who completed phase one and two training between 1999-2000 and enlisted aged (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 years old or above.

Mark Francois: The fatality rate in Afghanistan for regular soldiers who completed phase one and two training between 1999-2000, by age on enlistment, is given in the following table. The fatality rate is for the period 1 April 2007-30 June 2013. Enlistment data prior to April 2007 is held on legacy systems and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Age on enlistment Rate per 1,000 personnel deployed Rate per 1,000 person years at risk 
			 16 6 10 
		
	
	
		
			 17 2 3 
			 18 and over 8 13 
		
	
	The 1,000 person years at risk data is the amount of time each individual spent on operations (where each calendar day recorded as being in theatre is recorded as a day at risk) and this is totalled across all personnel to provide the total number of days at risk in that time period. The total days at risk in a given time period is divided by the number of days in the year and the calculated rate is then multiplied by a thousand.

Afghanistan

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Army corps, including infantry, has had the highest fatality rate in Afghanistan; and what proportion of new recruits who enlisted aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 years old or above joined that corps.

Mark Francois: The infantry has had the highest fatality rate in Afghanistan. The following tables show the proportion of recruits aged under 18 and 18 and over entering the infantry between 1 April 2007 and 30 June 2013. Enlistment data prior to April 2007 is held on legacy systems and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Other ranks 
			  Financial years 
			 Percentage of totals in each age category joining the infantry 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Percentage aged under 18 untrained soldiers entering the infantry 37.0 37.7 37.0 46.2 44.6 40.5 
			 Percentage aged 18 and over untrained soldiers entering the infantry 35.0 38.7 37.3 41.2 44.8 40.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Officers 
			  Financial years 
			 Percentage of totals in each age category joining the Infantry 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Percentage commissioned officers entering the infantry who joined the Army aged under 18 29.3 44.4 — — — — 
			 Percentage commissioned officers entering the infantry who joined the Army aged 18 and over 29.9 34.0 31.0 26.6 25.5 18.2 
			 Notes: 1. The fatality rate covers both officers and soldiers. Infantry officers account for less than 10 fatalities in each financial year. 2. Officer figures refer to direct entry officers only. Officers are only assigned an arm or service during their training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) or at the point of commission (completion of RMAS). 3. Percentages where either the numerator or denominator is five or less are replaced by “—” to limit personnel disclosure and ensure confidentiality.

Apache AH-64 Helicopter

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Capability Sustainment Programme for the Apache helicopter will be complete.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 December 2012, Official Report, column 618W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North (Mr Scott).

Armed Forces: Suicide

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of armed forces (a) recruits, (b) personnel who committed suicide and (c) veterans who committed suicide were under 18 years old at the time they enlisted in the last 20 years.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) holds relevant information on untrained and trained regular armed forces personnel in the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 December 2012. Date of entry to the armed forces prior to April 2007 is held on legacy systems and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The MOD does not hold information on the number of suicide and open verdict deaths among all veterans, but does hold data for personnel who deployed to the 1991 Gulf Conflict (Gulf 1) and an era comparison group.
	In the period 1 April 2007 to 31 December 2012, two untrained regular armed forces personnel committed suicide. Of these, neither was aged under 18 at the time they joined the armed forces. In the same period, 58 trained regular armed forces personnel committed suicide. Of these 34% were aged under 18 at the time they joined the armed forces.
	In the 20 year period 1 January 1993 to 31 December 2012 there were 276 post-service suicides and open verdict deaths among Gulf 1 veterans and the comparison group. Of these, 48% were aged under 18 at the time they joined the armed forces.

Defence Exports Support Group

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the membership is of the Defence Exports Support Group; on which dates it has met; and what it has discussed at those meetings since the inception of the group.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff), gave on 23 April 2012 Official Report, column 718W.
	The Defence Exports Support Group (DESG) first met in December 2010 and again in June 2011. The DESG has not met recently, but Ministers and officials regularly engage on important export issues including through the National Security Council (NSC) as part of wider defence engagement and NSC co-ordinated sub-groups. The discussions have included specific defence and security export campaigns, such as Typhoon and Hawk, and related issues such as training.

Defence: Procurement

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of expenditure on defence procurement contracts valued in excess of £5 million was placed with UK-based small and medium-sized enterprises in each of the last three years.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has published details of expenditure with small and medium-sized enterprises over the last three years, this is available at the following link:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/index.php/publications/finance-and-economics/MOD-contracting-with-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises/financial-year-2012-13
	Information specifically related to contracts with a value over £5 million is, however, not separately identified. This information will take additional time to collate and I will write to the hon. Member.
	Substantive answer from Philip Dunne to John Woodcock:
	I undertook to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question on 28th October 2013, (Official Report, column 351W), to your recent question about defence procurement contracts with Small and medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), I am now writing to provide the additional information you requested on contracts over £5 million.
	The proportion of expenditure with SMEs on contracts valued at over £5 million was 3% in each of the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. The analysis includes open contracts within these financial years, which have a value in excess of £5 million and which have incurred some expenditure. Some contracts have expenditure exceeding £5 million but a recorded contract value of less than £5 million; this would indicate that the recorded contract value is incorrect. For this reason we have also included such contracts in the analysis.
	The data underpinning this analysis has been extracted from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts database. This information is initially input by MOD commercial staff when most contracts are established. The contracts database covers the majority of such payments and reflects transactions made by the MOD'S Defence Business Services in Liverpool, which handles about 95% of all payments made by the MOD and Defence Agencies. Payments not included are those which may have been made (a) on behalf of other government departments, (b) by the MOD'S Trading Funds and Executive Non Departmental Public Bodies (which lie outside the MOD's accounting boundary), (c) locally by the Department, (d) through third parties such as prime contractors or other government departments and (e) in relation to collaborative projects where the payments are made through international procurement agencies or overseas governments. Government Procurement Card payments are also not included as they are not procurement contracts. Also excluded from our analysis are contracts with Government organisations where the MOD did not have the opportunity to influence placement of contracts with SMEs.

Defence: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there is a minimum voluntary offset threshold under the new Defence and Security Industrial Engagement Policy.

Philip Dunne: There is no voluntary offset threshold, minimum or otherwise, under the new Defence and Security Industrial Engagement Policy.
	This policy, introduced following the publication of the Government's White Paper “National Security through Technology” in February 2012, encourages overseas-based companies to work with the UK defence and security sectors on a voluntary basis in order to attract inward investment and improve capability to support the front line.

Military Bases: Lancashire

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to visit the Weeton Barracks in Lancashire.

Philip Hammond: I do not currently have any plans to visit Weeton Barracks but hope for an opportunity to do so in due course.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials at what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers in his Department.

Anna Soubry: One official is employed to provide direct support to the special advisers at the Ministry of Defence at band D/executive officer level.

Patrol Craft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress he has made on plans to build new offshore patrol vessels; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), announced on 6 November 2013, Official Report, columns 251-54, three new, more capable, Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) are to be built for the Royal Navy. Subject to approval, it is anticipated that these ships will be built by BAE Systems on the Clyde. The First of Class of these new OPVs is expected to enter service in 2017.

Red Arrows

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 November 2013, Official Report, column 654W, on the Red Arrows, when a decision needs to be made about a potential replacement for Hawk TMk1 for the Red Arrows aerobatic team.

Philip Dunne: The out of service date for the Hawk TMk1 is currently 2020. We continue to evaluate options to maintain this capability. Programme decision points have yet to be agreed.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many remotely piloted aircraft weapons discharge reports have been referred to the ISAF Joint Incident Assessment Team. [R]

Mark Francois: My response relates to strikes involving UK Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) only.
	There has been one Joint Incident Assessment Team convened to discuss reports of civilian casualties resulting from a UK Reaper RPAS strike.

CABINET OFFICE

10 and 11 Downing Street: Energy

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total energy costs for the flats in (a) 10 and (b) 11 Downing Street were in the last two financial years; what proportion of these costs were met by the public purse; if he will list the (i) energy provider and (ii) tariff for those apartments; and if he will make a statement.

John Woodcock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the supplier of energy for No. 10 Downing Street has been changed at any point in the last 12 months.

Francis Maude: The Government Procurement Service procures utilities for all central Government Departments, including the Cabinet Office estate. Under my Department's transparency programme contracts over £10,000 are listed on Contracts Finder, available at:
	https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk
	and spend of over £25,000 is published on gov.uk, available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data
	Costs for utilities are reported in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc09/0999/0999.pdf
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc00/0056/0056.pdf
	As was the case under the previous Administration, Ministers occupying ministerial residences are assessed under section 315 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003.

Children: Death

Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many deaths of children aged under 18 there have been in each NHS commissioning board area from (a) epilepsy, (b) diabetes and (c) asthma in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many children aged under 18 have died in each of the last five years, by cause of death.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Secretary of State for Health asking respectively a) how many children aged under 18 have died in each of the last five years, by cause of death and b) how many deaths of children aged under 18 have there been in each NHS commissioning board area from i) epilepsy, ii) diabetes and iii) asthma in each of the last five years. [174372, 174371].
	Table 1 provides the number of deaths of children under the age of 18 (excluding neonatal deaths) which occurred in England and Wales, by broad underlying cause of death group, in each year from 2007 to 2011 (the latest year available). Figures for 2012 will be available in the first quarter of 2014.
	Table 2 provides the number of neonatal deaths which occurred in England and Wales, by ONS neonatal cause of death group, in each year from 2007 to 2011 (the latest year available). Figures for 2012 will be available in the first quarter of 2014.
	Table 3 provides the number of deaths of children under the age of 18 (excluding neonatal deaths) which occurred in England and Wales, by NHS area team, where the underlying cause was i) epilepsy, ii) diabetes and iii) asthma in each year from 2007 to 2011 (the latest year available). Figures for 2012 will be available in the first quarter of 2014.
	A copy of the tables has been placed in the Library of the House.
	Figures for perinatal, infant and childhood mortality in England and Wales are published annually on the ONS website:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/child-mortality-statistics--childhood--infant-and-perinatal/2011/index.html

Cot Deaths

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the case for publishing annual figures on how many babies die of SIDS each year.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what assessment he has made of the case for publishing annual figures on how many babies die of SIDS each year. [174188].
	ONS ran a public consultation from 2 September to 31 October 2013 to inform necessary reductions to our statistical outputs. The statistical bulletin that presents figures for unexplained deaths in infancy (including figures for deaths from sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS) was included in this consultation.
	In common with much of the public sector, ONS is facing significant funding pressures and we need to make annual savings of around £9 million this year and next. Most of these savings will come from streamlining our business operations, but some cuts to statistical outputs will also be necessary.
	As around 80% of our outputs are required under EU or UK law, this consultation focused on those not required by law.
	While we will have to reduce some outputs, we are not proposing to cut all of those included in the consultation. The aim of the consultation was to obtain feedback on the need for, and use of, these outputs so ONS could determine which cuts would have the least impact on our users. We have not yet had the opportunity to analyse all of the responses or to make decisions about which outputs will be cut.
	Figures for unexplained deaths in infancy in England and Wales are published annually on the ONS website:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/child-health/unexplained-deaths-in-infancy--england-and-wales/index.html

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials at what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers in (a) his Department, (b) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and (c) the Office of the Prime Minister.

Francis Maude: As set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, Departments may provide support for special advisers in order to enable them to work effectively. This has been the practice of successive Administrations.
	Private offices in my Department include a mixture of special advisers and other civil servants working together to serve their Minister. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley East (Michael Dugher), on 8 October 2013, Official Report, columns 168-69W, which includes details on the structure of private offices and to our departmental organogram, available at:
	http://data.gov.uk/organogram/cabinet-office

Statistics

Graham Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proposals have been received from the Office of National Statistics on the future collection of (a) social, (b) health and (c) poverty indicators.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proposals have been received from the Office of National Statistics on the future collection of (a) social, (b) health and (c) poverty indicators. (174265)
	The ONS has recently closed its public consultation on a number of ONS outputs including outputs on social, health and poverty indicators to assess the impact on our users if some of these outputs are stopped or reduced. A full list of outputs ONS has consulted on is attached. The consultation ran from 2 September 2013 till 31 October 2013.
	We are currently reviewing the 650 responses we have received and will be publishing the results of the consultation in early 2014. We will be meeting with the Department of Health and other public bodies as part of our review process.
	The results of our consultation will be published on our website.
	
		
			 List of outputs in ONS outputs consultation 
			  Product 
			 1 General Lifestyle Reports (Smoking and Drinking: General Health; Households, Families and People; and Marriage and Cohabitation) and associated data 
			 2 Integrated Household Survey core questions in the Living Costs and Food Survey 
			 3 Labour Disputes survey 
			 4 Quarterly output on individuals' internet use 
			 5 UK Business output 
			 6 Bi-annual local enterprise partnership profiles 
			 7 Bi-annual Local Profiles 
			 8 Small area income and poverty measures 
			 9 Annual statistical bulletin on Cancer Survival in England 
			 10 Weekly figures on Deaths Registered in England and Wales 
			 11 Monthly figures on Deaths Registered by Area of Usual Residence, England and Wales (Provisional) 
			 12 Annual statistical bulletin on Childhood, Infant and Perinatal Mortality in England and Wales 
			 13 Unexplained Deaths in Infancy in England and Wales 
			 14 Stop production of statistics on Gestation-specific Births and Infant Deaths in England and Wales 
			 15 Annual statistical bulletin on Suicides in the United Kingdom 
			 16 Statistics on Excess Winter Mortality in England and Wales (Provisional and Final) 
			 17 Deaths involving MRSA in England and Wales 
			 18 Deaths involving Clostridium difficile in England and Wales 
			 19 Annual statistical bulletin on Avoidable Mortality in England and Wales 
			 20 Annual statistical bulletin on Injury and Poisoning Mortality in England and Wales 
			 21 Deaths Related to Drug Poisoning in England and Wales 
			 22 Annual statistical bulletin on Alcohol-related deaths in the United Kingdom 
			 23 ONS adoption statistics 
			 24 Quarterly births and deaths statistics (currently published as quarterly tables in Vital Statistics: Population and Health Reference Tables) 
			 25 Quarterly conception statistics (currently published as quarterly tables in Vital Statistics: Population and Health Reference Tables) 
			 26 Reduce scope of the sub-national life expectancy statistics bulletin 
			 27 Annual statistical bulletin on cancer incidence and mortality in the UK 
			 28 Outputs on Health Expectancies at birth and at age 65 for the United Kingdom and Constituent Countries, update to years 2009-11 
			 29 Sub-national estimates of Disability-free life expectancy at birth and at age 65 for Upper Tier Local Authorities. 2006-08 to 2009-11 
			 30 Outputs on Inequality in Disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) at birth and at age 65 for National Index of Multiple Deprivation 2010 deprivation deciles of small areas, 2006-08 to 2009-11 
		
	
	
		
			 31 Validation of all Disability-free Life expectancy estimates based on Annual Population Survey using Census 2011 data for Upper Tier and Lower Tier LAs and area deprivation deciles and exploration of Clinical Commissioning Group estimates 
			 32 Outputs on social inequality in health expectancy by NS-SEC and area deprivation 2010-12, England 
			 33 Small area analysis of Health Expectancy by MSOA 2009-2013. England (started this financial year but not completed until 2015) 
			 34 Trends in intercensal mortality by NS-SEC, sex, English regions and Wales update to 2009-11 
			 35 Trends in social inequality in life expectancy at birth and at age 65, update to period 2007-11, England and Wales 
			 36 Decennial analysis of social inequality in all-cause and cause specific mortality by NS-SEC and sex, 2010-12 England and Wales 
			 37 Decennial analysis of social inequality in alcohol-related causes of death by NS-SEC and sex 
			 38 Stop the Decennial Analysis of social inequality in preventable causes of mortality by NS-SEC and sex

Suicide

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the suicide rate was for (a) young people aged 15 to 25 and (b) people aged over 25 years in each of the last six years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the suicide rate was for (a) young people aged 15 to 25 and (b) people aged over 25 years in each of the last six years.
	Table 1 provides the age-specific suicide rate per 100,000 population, for (a) people aged 15 to 25 and (b) people aged over 25 years, in England and Wales, for deaths registered between 2007 and 2012 (the latest year available).
	The Office for National Statistics routinely report suicide statistics based on when a death was registered, rather than when it occurred. As suicides are certified by a coroner following an inquest, there can be a considerable delay between when a death is registered and when it occurred.
	Figures for suicides in the United Kingdom, England, Wales and regions of England are published annually on the ONS website and are available from 1981 onwards. The latest statistical bulletin also includes analysis of the impact of registration delays on UK suicide statistics:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/suicides-in-the-united-kingdom/index.html
	
		
			 Table 1. Age-specific suicide rates per 100,000 population (with 95% confidence intervals), England and Wales, deaths registered between 2007 and 2012(1,2,3,4,5) 
			 Rate per 100,000 population 
			  15-25 Over 25 
			   Confidence interval  Confidence interval 
			  Rate Lower limit Upper limit Rate Lower limit Upper limit 
			 2007 5.7 5.2 6.2 10.5 10.1 10.8 
			 2008 6.6 6.0 7.2 10.9 10.6 11.3 
			 2009 6.3 5.8 6.9 11.1 10.8 11.5 
			 2010 6.1 5.6 6.7 10.6 10.3 11.0 
			 2011 6.7 6.2 7.3 11.3 11.0 11.7 
		
	
	
		
			 2012 6.4 5.9 7.0 11.3 11.0 11.7 
			 (1) Suicide is defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm) and Y10-Y34 (Events of undetermined intent), excluding Y33.9 where the coroner's verdict was pending for the year 2004-06. From 2007 onwards, deaths which were previously coded to Y33.9 are coded to U50.9 and automatically excluded from the suicide definition. (2) Deaths of non-residents are included in figures for England and Wales. (3) Rates are calculated using 2011 Census based mid year population estimates for the years 2007 to 2012. (4) Confidence intervals are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. Calculations based on small numbers of events are often subject to random fluctuations. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures. (5) Figures are for suicides registered, rather than suicides occurring between 2007 and 2012. Due to the length of time it takes to hold an inquest, it can take months for a suicide to be registered in England and Wales. Further information is available on the ONS website: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/suicides-in-the-united-kingdom/index.html

Unpaid Work

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were working unpaid in each of the last six years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people were working unpaid in each of the last six years. (174510).
	Unfortunately, using ONS data sources, it is not possible to comprehensively estimate the number of people working unpaid.

HEALTH

Artificial Sweeteners

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the safety of xylitol as a substitute for sugar cane for use in the production of food and drinks products; and what quantity of xylitol has been imported in each year since 2003.

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advises that xylitol and other bulk sweeteners, which are to be used as alternatives to sugar in food and drink, are considered to be food additives for which there is a European harmonised authorisation regime. Safety in use is one of the criteria which must be met in order for a substance to be authorised. Xylitol is authorised for use in the EU based on the opinion of the European Scientific Committee for Food on its acceptability.
	It is not possible to provide import statistics specifically for xylitol because it is not separately reported under the trade statistics system.

Artificial Sweeteners

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which sugar substitutes have been (a) approved and (b) rejected for use in the production of food and drinks products since 2005.

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advises that sugar substitutes such as bulk and intense sweeteners are considered to be food additives and require European Union authorisation. Steviol glycosides were approved in 2011 for use as a sugar substitute across the EU.
	An application, to extend the use of the approved bulk sweetener erythritol, was rejected. A revised application for that extension, and an application for the new intense sweetener advantame, are currently under discussion between the European Commission and EU member states.

Artificial Sweeteners

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the safety of coconut sugar as a substitute for sugar cane for use in the production of food and drinks products; and what quantity of coconut sugar has been imported in each year since 2003.

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is not aware of any food safety concerns raised about coconut sugar.
	The FSA is not aware that any assessment has been made of food safety concerns about coconut sugar.
	Imported foodstuffs records are held by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in England. DEFRA has confirmed that it is not possible to provide import statistics specifically for coconut sugar because it is not separately reported under the trade statistics system.

Artificial Sweeteners

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the safety of stevia as a substitute for sugar cane in the production of food and drinks products; and what quantity of stevia has been imported to the UK in each year since 2003.

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advises that stevia leaves are considered to be a novel food within the European Union and an application for authorisation under the EU harmonised regime is currently being considered. Commercial use in the production of food and drinks products is not permitted prior to authorisation.
	Extracts from stevia leaves known as steviol glycosides/and intended to be used as a substitute for sugar cane in the production of food and drinks, are considered to be food additives for which there is a harmonised EU regime. Steviol glycosides have been assessed for safety by the European Food Safety Authority and were authorised for use across the EU in 2011.

Autism

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to fund new research on the effects of ageing on people with autism.

Daniel Poulter: The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and the national health service, value for money and scientific quality.
	The NIHR-funded Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme has launched a call for research proposals in ASD. Proposals are sought for studies of clinical efficacy of interventions used in the diagnosis or treatment of ASD and related diagnoses, and should have the potential to contribute work of significant benefit to the day-to-day lives of patients and their carers.
	The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London is carrying out research on ASD and is seeking to address the need for diagnostic tests and treatments throughout the life course.

Autism

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the statutory review of the Adult Autism Strategy is considering what progress has been made on providing support for older adults with autism.

Norman Lamb: The review of the 2010 Adult Autism Strategy is considering older adults with autism and this issue has featured in the self evaluation exercise on progress undertaken by local authorities and their partners, and has been raised in focus groups arranged to hear views from people with autism, their families and carers, and in on-going discussions with the National Autistic Society following their recent report on autism and ageing.

Blood: Contamination

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to bring legal proceedings against those who dispensed contaminated blood.

Jane Ellison: The blood-borne viral infections that tragically resulted from this occurred before an effective method of viral inactivation was introduced in 1985 for clotting factor production, and before effective blood screening tests were implemented. The Government is not bringing any legal proceedings against those who dispensed contaminated blood.

Blood: Donors

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will lift the lifetime ban in Northern Ireland on gay and bisexual men donating blood; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: In Northern Ireland, all men who have had sex with another man (MSM), regardless of their sexual orientation, are currently permanently deferred from donating blood. The High Court of Justice of Northern Ireland has recently given judgment in a judicial review that the Secretary of State rather than the Northern Ireland Health Minister is responsible for determining the blood donor deferral period for MSM. The Secretary of State is currently considering the implications of this judgment.

Breast Cancer

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he had with (a) Public Health England and (b) NHS Choices about work they are undertaking to raise awareness of breast cancer risk factors;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of cases of breast cancer that could be prevented by lifestyle changes.

Jane Ellison: In December 2011, Cancer Research UK published ‘The Fraction of Cancer Attributable to Lifestyle and Environmental factors in the UK in 2010’ (Parkin et al, British Journal of Cancer 105, Suppl2, S77-S81). This report estimated that 26.8% of breast cancers in women were attributable to risk factor exposure, broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage of breast cancers attributable to risk factor exposure 
			 Alcohol 6.4 
			 Overweight and obesity 8.7 
			 Physical exercise 3.4 
			 Post-menopausal hormones 3.2 
			 Radiation—ionising 0.9 
			 Occupation 4.6 
			 Reproduction (not breastfeeding) 3.1 
			 All of the above 26.8 
		
	
	We are taking wide-ranging action to tackle risk factors for the prevention of disease including tobacco use, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and harmful consumption of alcohol. This work aims to reduce the many premature deaths and illnesses which could be avoided by improving lifestyles.
	Key elements of the work programme involve action at the national level including working with industry through the Public Health Responsibility Deal, alongside strengthening local action, promoting healthy choices, and giving appropriate information to support healthier lives through social marketing campaigns such as Change4Life.
	The NHS Choices website provides information on familial, lifestyle and environmental risk factors of breast cancer. The site also includes information on how to reduce the risks of breast cancer where possible.
	Provision for the management of women at high risk of breast cancer through the NHS Breast Screening Programme is contained in the service specification for breast screening in the agreement between the Department of Health and NHS England on the public health functions to be exercised by the NHS (the Section 7a agreement). The specification was developed by Public Health England.
	Women who think they are at a raised risk of breast cancer should seek advice from their general practitioner, who will be able to refer them to the local genetics service for assessment if clinically appropriate. Those women at the highest risk will be enrolled into the NHS Breast Screening Programme for earlier and more regular screening. There is local provision for those women with a moderately raised risk.

Breast Cancer

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects NHS England to commission a breast cancer services audit.

Jane Ellison: Breast cancer was added to the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP) along with 10 other audit topics in October 2011, following recommendations made to the Department by the National Advisory Group for Clinical Audit and Inquiries. The audit topics were planned for addition to NCAPOP programme between 2011 and 2014 and specification for the breast cancer audit is due for development in 2014.
	NCAPOP audits are now commissioned and managed on behalf of NHS England by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership.

Cancer

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of progress in the earlier diagnosis of cancer; and what estimate it has made of the number of lives saved as a result, in the period following the announcement of an allocation of £450 million funding for that purpose.

Jane Ellison: From February 2014 we will be publishing data for the Public Health Outcomes indicator about the proportion of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2, and so that will enable us to assess progress with tackling late diagnosis. We have a range of other data available about progress with our earlier diagnosis of cancer programme, for example, in relation to the impact of the Be Clear on Cancer campaigns.
	There is inevitably a time lag because of the nature of cancer as a disease before we can assess the impact of the earlier diagnosis work on cancer survival (and therefore on additional lives saved), and there is a range of factors that will make it difficult to assess this rapidly—in particular how far improvements are as a result of earlier diagnosis and how far as a result of better access to treatment. We are currently considering the best way to assess progress, in advance of the data being available on changes in survival, in terms of the ambition set out in January 2011 to save an additional 5,000 lives per year by 2014-15.

Cancer

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the transition from Cancer Networks to Strategic Clinical Networks on cancer expertise in the NHS;
	(2)  what guidance and support he has provided to strategic clinical networks on maintaining breast cancer site specific groups;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with NHS England about the future of site specific groups.

Jane Ellison: No formal assessment has been made of the effects of the transition from Cancer Networks to Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) on cancer expertise in the national health service.
	No discussions have been had with NHS England about the future of site specific groups; however, the requirement for the provision of site specific groups, such as those for breast cancer, is written into national cancer peer review requirements and remains unchanged.
	In consultation with SCNs, NHS England has developed an SCN framework. The framework reiterates the role and importance of clinical networking groups as support for the commissioning process, but allows for local agreement to how those groups are supported.

Disability Aids: Children

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time between assessments and delivery of mobility equipment and wheelchairs to disabled children and young people.

Norman Lamb: Since April 2013, work to improve services for people needing a wheelchair has been led by NHS England discharging its responsibilities through the Operating Model for Specialised Services and through clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), which it will hold to account. One of NHS England's Mandate objectives is for improvement in supporting children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities. We want to see CCGs—and the NHS Commissioning Board in relation to the more specialised wheelchairs—supported to be proactive in commissioning wheelchair services, drawing on the best clinical expertise and listening to patients.
	The Whizz Kidz 'Child in a Chair in a Day' programme has been showcased as best in class in Sir David Nicholson's 2011 ‘Innovation Health and Wealth’ report and referred to as a priority for 2013 in the subsequent ‘Creating Change: Innovation, Health and Wealth One Year On’ report published in 2012. A copy of each report has already been placed in the Library.

Energy

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department and each of its non-departmental bodies spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12, (iv) 2012-13 and (v) 2013 to date.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's gas and electricity expenditure for the years 2009 to date is as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Gas Electricity 
			 2009-10 160,572 1,253,708 
			 2010-11 117,690 862,052 
			 2011-12 139,343 1,145,671 
			 2012-13 135,449 862,223 
			 2013-14(1) 49,105 844,153 
			 (1 )To date. 
		
	
	Expenditure figures for NHS England are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Gas Electricity 
			 2012-13 168 122,732 
			 2013-14(1) 52,119 230,585 
			 (1 )To date. 
		
	
	The gas figure in 2013 (October 2012 to March 2013) is a single invoice from North West strategic health authority—unpaid. There are no other charges showing as the Department does not itemise gas charges to NHS England.
	Electricity is higher in 2013-14 (April 2013 to March 2014) as staff numbers increased from around 200 to in excess of 5,000 from 1 April 2013. Therefore NHS England occupied more space in Maple Street and Quarry House and were charged a bigger share of electricity costs.
	NHS England does not own any property and therefore has no direct relationship with electricity and gas suppliers. Instead gas and electricity is part of the leasing charges paid to the landlords of which the main suppliers are Department of Health and NHS Property Services. NHS Property Services are the largest provider of accommodation across NHS England to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and no breakdown is provided on their invoices and therefore the full value of the invoice is charged to rent. Therefore, NHS England is unable to provide a total cost for gas and electricity because it is part of the rent charge.
	Expenditure figures for Monitor are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Gas Electricity 
			 2009-10 4,838 28,557 
			 2010-11 6,863 30,595 
			 2011-12 12,698 55,923 
			 2012-13 20,463 88,828 
			 2013-14(1) 12,963 57,753 
			 (1) To date. 
		
	
	Expenditure figures for the Care Quality Commission are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Gas Electricity 
			 2009-10 8,768 381,672 
			 2010-11 11,546 380,972 
			 2011-12 5,628 337,708 
			 2012-13 7,552 299,479 
			 2013-14(1) 3,054 161,965 
			 (1 )To date. 
		
	
	Expenditure figures for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (formerly National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Gas Electricity 
			 2009-10 0 132,000 
			 2010-11 0 124,000 
			 2011-12 0 124,000 
			 2012-13 0 131,000 
			 2013-14(1) 0 55,000 
			 (1 )To date. 
		
	
	Expenditure figures for Health and Social Care Information Centre are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Gas(1) Electricity(1) 
			 2009-10 5,971 133,080 
			 2010-11 6,181 137,349 
			 2011-12 5,093 146,709 
			 2012-13 5,624 147,817 
			 2013-14(2) 1,440 76,957 
			 (1 )Including VAT. (2 )To date. 
		
	
	Expenditure figures for Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Gas Electricity 
			 2009-10 0 n/a 
			 2010-11 0 n/a 
			 2011-12 0 (1)10,115 
			 2012-13 0 15,173 
			 2013-14(2) 0 (3)7,269 
			 (1)(E) 8 months. (2 )To date. (3) (E) 6 months. 
		
	
	Expenditure figures for the Human Tissue Authority are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Gas Electricity 
			 2009-10 (1)— (2)— 
			 2010-11 (1)— 11,389 
			 2011-12 (1)— 17,358 
			 2012-13 (1)— 18,806 
			 2013-14(3) (1)— 10,006 
			 (1) No charges. (2 )Unavailable. (3 )To date.

Food

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of changes in calorie intake for (a) men, (b) women, (c) boys and (d) girls in the last 30 years.

Jane Ellison: Data on energy (calorie) intakes are collected in the National Diet and Nutrition Surveys (NDISIS). The earliest data available are from The Dietary and Nutrition Survey of British Adults, carried out in 1986-87. Average daily total energy intakes from this and later surveys are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			 Average daily total energy intake (kcal/day); Males 
			  Date 
			 Age 2008-09 to 2010-11(1) 2000-01(2) 1997(2) 1994-95(2) 1986-87(3) 
			 4-10 years 1,586 — 1,684 — — 
			 11-18 years 1,965 — 2,131 — — 
			 19-64 years 2,151 2,308 — — (4)2,450 
			 65+ years 1,934 — — 1,907 — 
		
	
	
		
			 Average daily total energy intake (kcal/day); Females 
			  Date 
			 Age 2008-09 to 2010-11(1) 2000-01(2) 1997(2) 1994-95(2) 1986-87(3) 
			 4-10 years 1,522 — 1,509 — — 
			 11-18 years 1,607 — 1,663 — — 
			 19-64 years 1,614 1,635 — — (4)1,680 
			 65+ years 1,501 — — 1,420 — 
			 (1) Bates B, Lennox A, Prentice A, Bates C, Swan G (2012) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Headline results from Years 1, 2 and 3 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008-09 to 2010-11) (2) Published in Bates B, Lennox A, Bates C, Swan G (2011) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Headline results from Years 1 and 2 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008-09 to 2009-10) (3) Gregory 3, Foster K, Tyler H, Wiseman M; The Dietary and Nutrition Survey of British Adults (HMSO, 1990) (4) This survey sampled adults aged 16-64 years.

Food

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on changes in meal portion size in (a) households and (b) restaurants in the last 30 years.

Jane Ellison: In 2002, the Government published studies of typical portion weights for a range of foods consumed by adults and children, based on analysis of data collected in earlier dietary surveys.
	The report on children is available at:
	www.foodbase.org.uk/results.php?f_report_id=223
	The report on adults in available at:
	www.foodbase.org.uk/results.php?f_report_id=82
	In 2008, the Government commissioned a review of portion size trends and hosted a workshop to assess the evidence. Details of both are available at:
	http://collections.europarchive.Org/tna/20100907111047/http://food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2008/jun/portionsize
	No data are held at household or restaurant level.

Food: Labelling

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received about the effect on businesses and practitioners in the natural health sector of the implementation of the EU Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the financial effect on British business of the implementation of the EU Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims;
	(3)  how many nutrition and health claims have so far been received by the Food Standards Agency in relation to the EU Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims for passing to the European Commission; what information his Department holds about the number of such claims which have now been received by the Commission from all EU member states; what information his Department holds about the number of potential claims that have been submitted by the Commission to the European Food Safety Authority for assessment; and how many specific claims have now been (a) approved, (b) refused and (c) otherwise not determined following the receipt by the Commission of advice from that Authority;
	(4)  what information his Department hold on which claims have now been approved for glucosamine by the EU following assessment under the provisions of the EU Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims.

Jane Ellison: Members of the natural health sector have made representations to Health Ministers about the impact of the European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims on businesses and on the information that can be provided to consumers to promote products.
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment was published in July 2007.
	The EU Regulation requires the European Commission to submit a report on the application of the Regulation, in particular on the evolution of the market in foods for which nutrition or health claims are made. This will look at the impact of the implementation of the Regulation across the EU, including in the United Kingdom.
	The Food Standards Agency, as the UK Competent Authority in relation to the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation in 2007, sent 2,907 general function health claim applications to the European Commission in 2008. In total, the European Commission received over 44,000 such applications from all EU member states. These were aggregated into 4,637 health claim applications submitted to the European Food Safety Authority for assessment. The EU Register of claims lists 229 general function health claims as authorised and 1,875 as non-authorised. The European Commission's website lists 2,095 such applications on which decisions are still to be made; 2,078 of these are health claims for plant based “botanical” substances which have been placed ‘on hold' pending further reflection by the Commission.
	No health claims have been authorised for glucosamine.

General Practitioners

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department issues to GPs on the maximum number of patients they can have on their register.

Daniel Poulter: The Department is not prescriptive on the number of patients on a practice list. It is for each general practitioner practice to ensure they are able to provide services to all their patients as set out in their contract with NHS England.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a hospital appointment was in (a) Greater Manchester, (b) the North West and (c) the UK in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: The average (median) waiting time for a first out-patient appointment in Greater Manchester, North West strategic health authority and England in each of the last four years is shown in the following table. Waiting times for hospital appointments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved Administrations.
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Median wait time (days) 
			 Greater Manchester(1)  
			 2007-08 24 
			 2008-09 21 
			 2009-10 21 
			 2010-11 21 
			 2011-12 19 
			   
			 North West(2)  
			 2007-08 22 
			 2008-09 21 
			 2009-10 21 
			 2010-11 21 
			 2011-12 20 
			   
			 ( c) England  
			 2007-08 24 
			 2008-09 21 
			 2009-10 22 
			 2010-11 21 
			 2011-12 20 
			 (1)This is the area covered by the following primary care trusts: Ashton, Leigh And Wigan PCT Bolton PCT Bury PCT Heywood, Middleton And Rochdale PCT Manchester PCT Oldham PCT Salford PCT Stockport PCT Tameside And Glossop PCT Trafford PCT. (2 )This is the area covered by North West strategic health authority.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) his Department and (b) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority have received legal advice regarding a potential liability for damage claims if any mitochondrial replacement technique were to be approved for clinical use in the UK on the basis of insufficient preclinical data regarding safety.

Jane Ellison: Neither the Government nor the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority have received legal advice on this issue. The Government has received expert advice that there is nothing to suggest that the techniques proposed are unsafe, and we intend to assess the situation further following consultation on the draft regulations.

Mental Health Services

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he plans to extend the street triage initiative;
	(2)  when results of the street triage pilot will be published;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of the street triage pilot.

Norman Lamb: The Department is funding mental health street triage pilots to be carried by nine police force areas. The forces involved are the Metropolitan Police Service, British Transport police, West Yorkshire police, West Midlands police, Thames Valley police, North Yorkshire police, Sussex police, Derbyshire Constabulary, and Devon and Cornwall police. Each force is working in partnership with local health commissioners and providers.
	The pilots will run for one calendar year. A national evaluation will report in early 2015.
	Police forces in Leicestershire and Cleveland have similar schemes in operation and are reporting improved outcomes for people in mental health crisis who come to the attention of police officers. We expect that the pilots funded by the Department will show similar benefits.
	Although there are no plans to extend the initiative through central funding, the project will support participating forces and their partners to mainstream the benefits of the schemes, and encourage other areas to adopt similar approaches.

NHS Property Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the policy of NHS Property Services is on the sale of properties it owns to other NHS institutions where those properties are used to provide healthcare.

Daniel Poulter: NHS Property Services will only dispose of a property once it has been declared by commissioners to be surplus to operational requirements for the delivery of NHS services.
	Any property to be disposed of is first listed on the Government's Electronic Property Information Mapping Service (ePIMS) website, which allows other public sector bodies to purchase it. Properties are listed on this website for 40 working days and if no other public sector organisation expresses an interest, they will be marketed externally.

NHS Property Services: Fareham

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many properties in Fareham are owned by NHS Property Services.

Daniel Poulter: The freehold owned properties in Fareham borough council’s area that NHS Property Services owns are:
	land and buildings at the former Coldeast hospital site;
	land at the former Coldeast hospital site previously occupied by the Sylvan clinic;
	Fareham health centre;
	Portchester health centre; and
	Sharland House, High Street, Fareham.
	The company also holds a lease for the site of the electricity sub-station, at Fareham community hospital.

NHS: Drugs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the role of functional medicines in developing individualised programmes for NHS patients; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: No assessment has been made.
	The Department does not maintain a position on any particular complementary and alternative medicine. Although the Department provides strategic leadership to the national health service and social care organisations in England, it is for local NHS organisations to plan, develop and improve services for local people, this includes complementary therapies.

NHS: Redundancy Payments

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the National Audit Office's report of July 2013, Managing the transition to the reformed health system, what the names of the 44 individuals referred to in paragraph 4.16 are; which NHS body each such individual was employed by; and how much the redundancy payment made to each such individual was.

Daniel Poulter: The list of 44 individuals included primary care trust (PCT) chief executives and strategic health authority (SHA) chief executives and directors at risk of redundancy and contained estimates of the costs.
	The table sets out the payments made to 23 individuals on the list that have appeared in organisational remuneration reports published on 31 October 2013. The remaining 21 have either not agreed to the disclosure or have not received a redundancy payment.
	We intend to write to those of the 23 individuals, who have secured a payment to seek their agreement to disclosure.
	
		
			 Organisation Name Redundancy payments/Capitalised costs of early retirement (£000) 
			 NHS London SHA Hannah Farrar 110-115 
			  Trish Morris-Thompson 130-135 
			  Teresa Moss 130-135 
			  Simon Tanner 50-55 
			    
			 NHS Midlands and East SHA Neil McKay 415-420 
			    
			 NHS Midlands and East PCT Sushil Jathanna 60-65 
			    
			 NHS South of England SHA Ian Carruthers 445-450 
			  Sue Webb 285-290 
			    
		
	
	
		
			 NHS South of England PCT Charles Waddicor 70-75 
			  Deborah Evans 285-290 
			  Ian Tipney 300-305 
			    
			 NHS North SHA Stephen Singleton 360-365 
			  Tim Gilpin 280-285 
			    
			 NHS North PCT Derek Campbell 295-300 
			  Sue Page 325-330 
			  Kathy Doran 70-75 
			  Mike Potts 140-145 
			  Alan Whittrick 225-230 
			  Jayne Brown 410-415 
			  K Straughair 605-610 
			  Yasmin Chaudhry 330-335 
			  Chris Reed 345-350 
			  Chris Willis 300-305 
			 Notes: 1. The costs disclosed in the remuneration reports as set out above should include the redundancy cash sum and/or the cost to the employer of paying the early retirement costs to enable the redundant employee to access their full pension early. It appears that in some cases the cost of early retirement has not been included. 2. We would define a redundancy payment as either a cash lump sum or the cost to the employer of paying the early retirement costs to enable the redundant employ to access their full pension early.

Obesity

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of (a) adult and (b) child obesity was in (i) 1993, (ii) 2003 and (iii) the latest year for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the likely level in 2023.

Jane Ellison: The national data for adult and child obesity prevalence published by the Health Survey for England is as follows:
	Adults (age 16 and over) obesity prevalence in 1993 was 14.9%, 2003 it was 22.6%, and in the latest year available (2011) 24.8%.
	The earliest year for data on child obesity prevalence was 1995 in the Health Survey for England:
	Children (age 2-15 years) obesity prevalence in 1995 was 11.7%, 2003 it was 16.9%, and in the latest year available (2011) 16.3%.
	No assessment has been carried out on the likely level of adult and child obesity in 2023. However, predictions for 2025 were modelled in the Government's Foresight report: “Tackling Obesities: Future Choices” (2007). This modelling suggested that by 2025 47% males and 36% of females will be obese. For children, by 2025 for boys aged 6-10 years and 11-15 years, 21% and 11% respectively were predicted to be obese. For girls 6-10 years and 11-15 years, 14% and 22% respectively are predicted to be obese.

Ostomy

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of patients in England who are treated by way of colostomy irrigation rather than making use of ostomy bags and accessories;
	(2)  what was the cost to the NHS of issuing ostomy bags and accessories in England in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what proportion of patients in England has been trained in techniques of colostomy irrigation;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the rate of use of colostomy irrigation among patients in England as against patients in the other nations of the UK and other member states of EU.

Norman Lamb: In terms of the cost of prescribing in primary care, it is not possible to distinguish ostomy bags and accessories from other stoma appliances. Net ingredient cost (NIC) is provided for all products within British National Formulary (BNF) Chapter 23 Stoma Appliances.
	
		
			 The NIC of prescription items written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community in England, as classified by BNF Chapter 23 Stoma Appliances(1,2) 
			  NIC (£) 
			 2008-09 176,972,637 
			 2009-10 190,642,133 
			 2010-11 200,741,795 
			 2011-12 216,894,473 
			 2012-13 231,028,255 
			 (1 )Stoma appliances are also used in secondary care, information on which is not included. (2 )Stoma appliances delivered to patients in their homes through homecare providers are not captured within the data. Notes: 1. No information is collected on the number of patients in England who are treated by way of colostomy irrigation rather than making use of ostomy bags and accessories, nor as a comparison to other members of the European Union. 2. No information is collected on proportion of patients trained in techniques of colostomy irrigation. Source: Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system.

Palliative Care

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he plans to publish details of an alternative, individual approach to end of life care;
	(2)  if he will make an assessment of study NCT01081899 on www.clinicaltrials.gov as reported in The Lancet, which looked into the effectiveness of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) for hospitalised cancer patients with regards to (a) the effect of pursuing the LCP on patients' survival time and (b) a patient's experience of care in respect of dignity and kindness.

Norman Lamb: The Government has no plans to make an assessment of study NCT01081899, looking at the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP). As I announced on 15 July, our intention is for the Liverpool Care Pathway to be phased out over the next six to 12 months in favour of an individual approach to end of life care for each patient, with a personalised care plan backed up by a named senior clinician responsible for its implementation and condition specific guidance. I also announced a full system-wide response to the review's recommendations by the end of the year.
	This work is being undertaken by the Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People (LACDP), which was announced on the 30 August this year. The LACDP is working with partner organisations, stakeholders and charities across the health and care sectors to inform this response.

Stress

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of stress on (a) cancer and (b) heart disease.

Jane Ellison: We are aware of the impact that stress can have on illnesses such as cancer and heart disease and that access to psychological services from the point of diagnosis can support patients in their recovery, by meeting their emotional as well as physical needs.
	The Cardiovascular Outcomes Strategy, published in March 2013, sets out good practice for the management of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) for health care practitioners and highlights the importance of access to psychological support for people diagnosed with heart disease.
	Building on good practice regarding CVD services and more generally, NHS Improving Quality, working with the Strategic Clinical Networks, will develop, evaluate and disseminate approaches to assessment and care planning for CVD patients. These will include an assessment of needs generally, including access to psychological support.
	With regard to cancer, in March 2013, the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative published ‘Living with and beyond cancer; Taking Action to Improve Outcomes’. This document supports commissioners, providers and others to take the actions necessary to improve survivorship outcomes and highlights the significance of having an integrated package of interventions, including holistic needs assessment and care planning, which would include access to psychological support.
	Further, we published ‘Improving Outcomes; A Strategy for Cancer’ in 2011, which describes improvements in outcomes that are relevant to people living with and beyond cancer. These improvements include reducing the proportion of people who report unmet psychological support needs following cancer treatment.

Transplant Surgery

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with NHS England on establishing a clinical trials network for new transplant research.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has had no specific discussions with NHS England on establishing a clinical trials network for new transplant research.
	The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds research infrastructure for clinical trials and other well-designed studies, including trials and studies relating to transplantation. This infrastructure includes the NIHR Clinical Research Network, biomedical research centres and units, clinical research facilities, and experimental cancer medicine centres.
	NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has provided the following information.
	NHSBT has been actively involved in both initiating and supporting organ donation and transplantation research and development, within the resources available, to identify best practice, and support new research initiatives, that are in line with NHSBT's organ donation strategy ‘Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020’.
	NHSBT has actively supported research through project funding and clinical trials, and has funded clinical research fellows, and supported honorary fellows to work on projects that are directly aligned with NHSBT's organ donation strategy. Furthermore, in the last two years, NHSBT has funded QUOD (Quality in Organ Donation, a bio resource and basic laboratory support, based in the University of Oxford) which will provide a unique resource to support translational research focusing on quality in organ donation. NHSBT has also funded a Clinical Trials Resource that will provide advice and practical support for clinical trials which looks at increasing the availability, quality and outcomes of donated organs.
	With regard to bone marrow transplantation, NHSBT does not lead on developing clinical research networks for bone marrow. NHSBT works in collaboration with other United Kingdom bone marrow registries and the Oversight Committee of the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum (SCSF) to provide support for research and assessment into improving the quality and number of stem cells available for UK patients. In addition, NHSBT will feed into the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum reviews on scientific developments that have an impact on the aims of the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum recommendations, published in 2010.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Broadband

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what expenditure she expects to make on the super connected cities programme in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16.

Edward Vaizey: The Government approved revised plans for the 22 Super Connected Cities at the end of June, with outline allocations across the cities amounting up to the full programme budget of £150 million. A more detailed profile will be agreed with HM Treasury and the cities shortly.

Broadband

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she will be replacing the super connected cities programme with a voucher scheme.

Edward Vaizey: The connections vouchers scheme is a key part of the offer to cities from the Super Connected Cities programme which also includes city-centre wireless plans, Wi-Fi hotspots in public buildings, and innovative technology projects which contribute to economic growth through high speed broadband.

Castes

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will conclude consultation on the amendment to the Equality Act to prevent discrimination by caste and descent.

Helen Grant: The caste legislation timetable, which relates to the duty contained in the Equality Act 2010 has been published here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/caste-discrimination-legislation-timetable

Copyright

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what outcomes were agreed at the meeting between the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries and Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 31 October 2013 on (a) Government proposals for a private copying exception and (b) the introduction of a levying scheme on copying devices to compensate UK artists.

Edward Vaizey: It is the Government's intention to introduce an exception for private copying, limited to personal use. Ministers in the Departments for Business, Innovation and Skills and Culture, Media and Sport are aware of the strong views expressed on various sides about this. However, the exception will not harm creators, and will only let people copy for their own personal use what they have paid for or legitimately acquired. This is fair to all parties, and underpins the continuing importance of consumers who support artists and creators by obtaining content legally.

Culture

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will conduct a review of the cultural sector in the northern cities of England.

Edward Vaizey: My Department has no immediate plans to conduct a review of the cultural sector in the northern cities of England. Arm's length bodies of my Department, including Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, are implementing strategies to ensure that all areas of the country have access to their funding, both directly and through outreach work done by London institutions.
	In the case of Arts Council England, this includes a £45 million 'Strategic touring programme' giving more people across England experiences of the arts; a £243.6 million Capital investment programme supporting organisations all around the country to develop resilience by giving them the right buildings and equipment to deliver their work; and a £37 million fund focusing on parts of the country where people's involvement in the arts is significantly below the national average.
	The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) works with local authorities and other cultural organisations to promote access to HLF funding. Projects such as the new Museum of Liverpool (grant £11.4 million), Tyneside Cinema (grant £2.7 million), the Whitworth Art Gallery (grant £8.5 million) and Experience Barnsley (grant £2.6 million) have made a significant contribution to opening up access to important cultural assets and broadening audiences. The HLF is also working with Priority Development Areas (including in Manchester, Liverpool and Sunderland) to encourage more applications.
	Other bodies, such as English Heritage, provide advice and support to encourage engagement with culture, including the historic environment.
	My Department's Taking Part Survey shows that: there have been significant increases in engagement with heritage since 2005-06 among those who lived in the North East (5.7% to 74.8%) and Yorkshire and the Number (6.5% to 74.8%); since 2005-06, the proportion of people visiting museums or galleries increased significantly in all regions of England; and since 2005-06 there have been significant increases in the number of adults engaging with the arts in the North East (from 70.2% to 74.6%) and the North West (from 71.5% to 76.5%).

Football

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress she has made in implementing the recommendations of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's Fourth Report of 2012-13, Football Governance Follow-up, HC509.

Helen Grant: DCMS continues to press the football authorities to respond positively to the Committee's recommendations. We commend the recent steps to reform the FA board, improve financial management with the introduction of the Financial Fair Play rules, and improve engagement with fans, including by introducing Supporter Liaison Officers in clubs. We are also considering proposals from Supporters Direct on supporter ownership.

Ministerial Policy Advisors

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials at what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers in her Department.

Edward Vaizey: The Department has one grade D employed to provide direct support to the special advisers.

Music: Festivals and Special Occasions

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has made of the contribution of music festivals to the UK economy.

Edward Vaizey: While we produce economic estimates on the value of the creative industries, including the music industry, to the UK economy, we do not do so for the music festival industry.

Olympic Games 2012

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has made of the revenue to the Exchequer generated by the London 2012 Olympic Games.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	The Treasury has not made any estimates of the Exchequer revenue generated by the London 2012 Olympic Games. Modelling undertaken for the Department for Culture Media and Sport as part of the Meta-Evaluation of the Impacts and Legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games estimates that the impacts of the London 2012 Olympic Games would in total generate for the UK economy some £28 billion to £41 billion in Gross Value Added over the period 2004 to 2020.

Olympic Games 2012: Wales

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much projects in Wales have received in Olympic legacy funding.

Helen Grant: Individual Government Departments have allocated funding for legacy projects which further their own departmental objectives. Many of these relate to devolved functions and therefore the UK Government's remit does not cover Wales. But Wales has benefited from a number of UK Government initiatives, including UKTI's work to promote UK business on the back of the games, UK Sport's funding for elite athletes and Join In's work to promote volunteering, especially sport-related.
	The independent meta-evaluation of legacy benefits from the games carried out for my Department by a consortium led by Grant Thornton included an assessment of economic benefits. They estimated the total economic impact of the games for Wales, in terms of gross value added between 2004 and 2020, at between £570 million and £950 million, with total job years created over the same time period at between 20,300 and 31,400. In addition Wales benefited from the games in a number of ways, including:
	having a games venue (football at the Millennium stadium);
	10 pre-games training camps with 23 teams;
	69% of Welsh schools signed up for Get Set, the educational programme managed by LOCOG (and now managed by the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association), which provides educational materials based on the Olympic and Paralympic values; and
	103 projects in Wales were awarded the Inspire Mark, the brand managed by LOCOG which was given to high-quality non-commercial projects inspired by the games.
	As announced on 22 December 2011, working together through the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC), the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive reached agreement on an inter-Administration dispute concerning the application of the Barnett formula to funds set aside for regeneration and transport within the budget for the Olympics games in 2012. Following consideration, the Administrations agreed that the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive would receive a one-off sum equivalent to the Barnett formula consequentials of relevant changes to Olympics funding since the present UK Government took office in May 2010. These sums amounted to £30.2 million, of which the Welsh Government received £8.9 million.
	The Spirit of 2012 Trust has recently been established to allocate up to £40 million from the sale of the Olympic Village to initiatives across the UK which promote the games' legacy. In advance of that the Big Lottery Fund has awarded over £13 million for projects promoting legacy across the UK.

JUSTICE

Air Navigation Order 2009

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been prosecuted under the Air Navigation Order 2009 for using a laser pen in the last five years.

Robert Goodwill: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Transport.
	The Civil Aviation Authority has made no prosecutions under the Air Navigation Order in relation to this offence. However, laser pen offences are usually dealt with by the police and prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service. The Department does not hold any data on the number of prosecutions there have been.

Prison Service

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many full-time equivalent staff are provided at each prison establishment through the use of the Payment Plus system; and under what criteria prison governors are permitted to use Payment Plus; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: Payment Plus payments may be available for additional hours worked, over and above an individual's scheduled shift, in the following circumstances: staff on a bedwatch; or constant observation; staff on a category A escort over and above the profiled staffing level; staff working in newly built accommodation while the recruitment of staff takes place; and to temporarily cover vacancies against the target staffing figure in an establishment, where the governor and deputy director of custody agree this can not be met through ordinary staffing arrangements.
	There is no discretion for additional hours working to be paid other than in the specific circumstances listed above.
	Allocation of Payment Plus hours must be on a fair and equitable basis to all eligible staff. Governors are responsible for ensuring that each establishment's detailing systems and processes are subject to a full equality impact assessment before any Payment Plus system is implemented and must take appropriate action on the findings of that assessment. The impact assessment should then be reviewed after six months. Where Payment Plus additional hours are available, governors must ensure that flexible systems are put in place to allow staff to choose when they wish to work, subject to sufficient volunteers being forthcoming.
	The table contains information on the level of Payment Plus worked at each public sector Prison Service establishment in terms of the equivalent full-time staff contributed during June 2013.
	
		
			 Equivalent full-time staff contributed by Payment Plus—June 2013 
			  Payment Plus equivalent full-time equivalent(1) 
			 Establishment Covering short-term vacancies Bedwatch Constant watch Total 
			 Askham Grange 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.6 
			 Aylesbury 0.4 0.3 9.7 10.4 
			 Bedford 5.4 3.7 0.0 9.1 
			 Belmarsh 40.0 21.6 5.1 66.7 
			 Blantyre House 0.1 0.7 0.2 1.0 
		
	
	
		
			 Blundeston 5.3 0.3 0.1 5.7 
			 Brinsford 1.1 1.7 0.2 3.0 
			 Bristol 0.8 5.0 1.1 6.9 
			 Brixton 13.2 1.5 0.0 14.7 
			 Buckley Hall 7.7 1.2 0.3 9.3 
			 Bullingdon 8.8 8.1 0.3 17.1 
			 Bure 1.1 5.2 0.0 6.3 
			 Cardiff 18.9 11.0 0.3 30.2 
			 Channings Wood 0.2 1.8 0.0 2.0 
			 Chelmsford 0.3 3.0 0.3 3.5 
			 Coldingley 6.2 0.4 0.0 6.6 
			 Cookham Wood 1.4 0.8 0.0 2.2 
			 Dartmoor 0.2 5.7 0.0 5.9 
			 Deerbolt 11.0 1.0 0.2 12.2 
			 Dorchester 1.3 3.4 0.2 5.0 
			 Dover 1.9 2.0 7.1 11.0 
			 Downview 5.6 0.3 0.0 5.9 
			 Drake Hall 3.8 2.8 0.3 6.9 
			 Durham 0.2 17.9 3.0 21.0 
			 Eastwood Park 0.3 0.7 0.0 1.0 
			 Elmley 3.5 5.8 0.0 9.3 
			 Erlestoke and Shepton Mallet 0.1 3.4 0.0 3.5 
			 Everthorpe 9.0 0.0 0.1 9.1 
			 Exeter 5.9 0.5 0.1 6.5 
			 Featherstone 1.6 5.3 0.9 7.8 
			 Feltham 29.2 6.8 1.1 37.2 
			 Ford 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 
			 Foston Hall 2.5 1.1 1.1 4.7 
			 Frankland 38.3 5.5 3.9 47.8 
			 Full Sutton 33.0 10.3 0.0 43.4 
			 Garth 0.0 1.3 0.3 1.6 
			 Gartree 3.3 4.7 3.3 11.3 
			 Glen Parva 6.6 2.1 0.8 9.5 
			 Grendon 8.2 0.5 0.0 8.6 
			 Guys Marsh 3.7 9.7 0.0 13.3 
			 Haslar 0.7 1.3 0.0 1.9 
			 Haverigg 13.1 0.1 0.0 13.2 
			 Hewell 2.2 8.5 2.1 12.8 
			 High Down 13.3 8.6 0.0 21.9 
			 Highpoint 5.6 5.2 4.1 14.9 
			 Hindley 0.6 2.2 0.6 3.4 
			 Hollesley Bay 1.9 0.0 0.0 1.9 
			 Holloway 0.2 2.6 0.0 2.8 
			 Holme House 4.0 3.5 2.7 10.1 
			 Hull 1.9 3.3 0.0 5.3 
			 Huntercombe 2.6 2.1 0.4 5.0 
			 Isis 6.7 0.1 0.0 6.8 
			 Isle of Wight 10.5 9.0 4.5 24.0 
			 Kennet 1.3 3.7 2.4 7.3 
			 Kirkham 0.0 1.2 1.3 2.5 
			 Kirklevington Grange 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 
			 Lancaster Farms 1.3 0.2 0.1 1.6 
			 Leeds 6.5 13.5 11.6 31.6 
			 Leicester 9.3 7.1 0.9 17.4 
			 Lewes 13.1 0.3 0.0 13.4 
			 Leyhill 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.9 
			 Lincoln 2.3 1.6 2.2 6.1 
			 Lindholme 13.6 2.4 1.2 17.1 
			 Littlehey 14.3 8.7 0.0 23.0 
			 Liverpool 22.1 6.2 1.9 30.1 
			 Long Lartin 11.6 28.3 0.2 40.1 
		
	
	
		
			 Low Newton 11.8 0.1 0.1 12.0 
			 Maidstone 0.6 8.3 0.3 9.1 
			 Manchester 44.2 6.6 1.1 51.8 
			 Moorland 12.9 3.4 1.5 17.8 
			 Morton Hall 10.2 0.2 0.4 10.7 
			 New Hall 8.7 4.6 2.2 15.4 
			 North Sea Camp 0.0 2.8 0.6 3.4 
			 Northallerton 3.1 0.3 0.0 3.4 
			 Northumberland 27.3 8.7 0.0 36.0 
			 Norwich 8.7 0.9 0.0 9.6 
			 Nottingham 14.7 5.5 0.7 20.9 
			 Onley 5.0 5.6 0.8 11.4 
			 Pentonville 18.9 11.8 0.1 30.8 
			 Portland 6.6 4.8 1.9 13.2 
			 Preston 15.8 3.3 2.4 21.5 
			 Ranby 0.5 8.3 0.3 9.1 
			 Reading 5.9 0.0 0.0 5.9 
			 Risley 12.3 9.8 3.7 25.8 
			 Rochester 1.1 1.4 5.4 7.9 
			 Send 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.5 
			 Sheppey Clustered Services 1.9 1.4 0.0 3.3 
			 Stafford 3.3 5.5 3.4 12.2 
			 Standford Hill 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.5 
			 Stocken 6.0 6.3 1.7 14.0 
			 Stoke Heath 1.0 3.9 2.8 7.7 
			 Styal 8.8 8.9 0.0 17.7 
			 Sudbury 1.8 4.6 0.0 6.4 
			 Swaleside 2.0 7.0 0.1 9.2 
			 Swansea 2.5 0.5 3.4 6.4 
			 Swinfen Hall 12.8 0.5 2.7 16.0 
			 The Mount 4.7 9.2 0.1 13.9 
			 The Verne 6.7 5.8 0.0 12.5 
			 Thorn Cross 0.0 0.0 0.2 0,2 
			 Usk/Prescoed 1.1 6.3 0.2 7.6 
			 Wakefield 41.7 4.5 2.3 48.6 
			 Wandsworth 13.1 12.3 2.1 27.5 
			 Warren Hill 7.7 0.1 0.1 8.0 
			 Wayland 0.1 7.2 1,0 8.3 
			 Wealstun 18.7 0.8 0.2 19.6 
			 Werrington 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.7 
			 Wetherby 7.0 0.1 5.2 12.3 
			 Whatton 4.5 15.4 0.0 19.9 
			 Whitemoor 5.2 6.5 0.8 12.5 
			 Winchester 7.4 1.9 0.0 9.4 
			 Woodhill 4.6 4.5 3.5 12.6 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 25.2 4.1 0.1 29.4 
			 Wymott 0.1 19.5 0.7 20.3 
			 Grand total 836.2 501.7 128.1 1,466.0 
			 (1) Equivalent full-time staff is calculated from total hours claimed.

EDUCATION

Academies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what changes would need to be made to the status of academies to enable the Office for National Statistics to treat them as non-profit institutions serving households.

Edward Timpson: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) makes independent decisions on whether bodies should be classified to the public or to the private sector in line with the European System of Accounts 95 accounting standards.
	The Government currently has no plans to make changes to the status of academies.
	Guidance on some of the factors ONS takes into account in considering how to classify a body can be found online:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226420/PU1547_final.pdf

Education: Assessments

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what regional segmentation of data is available of British results in (a) the Programme for International Student Assessment and (b) other comparative international studies.

David Laws: Disaggregated data for the United Kingdom at the national level from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) are available for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and can be found in the national reports for each country.
	Data for England and Northern Ireland are also available for the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement's (IEA) Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2011; the IEA's Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011; and the OECD's Adult Skills Survey(1).
	Further segmentation at a regional level is not possible for any of these studies because sample sizes are too small.
	(1 )Available at:
	http://www.nfer.ac.uk/pisa
	http://www.nfer.ac.uk/pirls
	http://www.nfer.ac.uk/timss
	http://www.nfer.ac.uk/research/projects/international-survey-adult-skills/

Free Schools

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether free schools are bound by any code of conduct relating to conflicts of interest caused by patrons, donors, governors or staff of a free school being involved in a company which benefits commercially from contracts placed by that free school.

Edward Timpson: Free schools are run by academy trusts, which are charitable companies. A trust can only conduct its affairs in line with its Articles of Association and its funding agreement, which in turn requires them to have regard to the Academies Financial Handbook. Both the articles and the handbook describe the expected conduct of academy trusts regarding conflicts of interest. The handbook makes it clear that academy trusts are required to openly procure any externally-sourced services and that if a business controlled by, or belonging to, a trustee of an academy trust wishes to bid to deliver a service to that academy they must do so at cost.

Free Schools

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether he has been made aware that any free school other than the Al-Madinah Free School (a) has appointed staff who do not have appropriate qualifications and experience, (b) have operated at any time without a designated Principal, (c) is not meeting safeguarding requirements, (d) has not identified which of its pupils have special educational needs, (e) is delivering an unacceptable poor standard of education and (f) has unacceptable levels of teaching quality;
	(2)  whether officials in his Department have been made aware that any free school other than the Al-Madinah Free School (a) has appointed staff who do not have appropriate qualifications and experience, (b) has operated at any time without a designated principal, (c) is not meeting safeguarding requirements, (d) has not identified which of its pupils had special educational needs, (e) is delivering an unacceptably poor standard of education and (f) has unacceptable levels of teaching quality.

Edward Timpson: As with all new schools, Ofsted inspects free schools prior to opening to ensure that a school is in a position to open and will meet the relevant school standards. New schools can only open if registration is recommended by Ofsted and any conditions set by Ofsted are met.
	All free schools receive a visit from an education adviser in their first term to assess progress since opening. The education advisers report back any issues to the Department.
	Where education advisers have identified any problems, these have been raised with the relevant school's trust. Follow-up visits are then conducted to give assurance that these have been resolved.
	Ofsted conducts a full inspection of all free schools in their second year of operation. Inspections can be brought forward if the Department has any concerns, as happened with Al Madinah free school. So far, Al Madinah is the only free school where this has happened.
	Ofsted has found that two schools, Al Madinah free school and Discovery New school, are inadequate. The Department is taking the necessary action with both schools. Three-quarters of the free schools which opened in 2011 were rated good or outstanding by Ofsted.

GCSE

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of year 11 pupils did not achieve grades (a) D to G and (b) A* to C at GCSE in mathematics and English in each of the last five years; and how many had achieved those grades by the age of 18 years.

David Laws: The following tables show the number and proportion of academic age 15-year-olds who did not achieve (a) grades D to G and (b) grades A* to C in GCSE English, mathematics, and both English and mathematics, for the 2004/05 to 2008/09 academic years and tracks them through to academic age 18. Academic age relates to age at the start of the academic year, so academic age 15-year-olds are usually in year 11. The tables also show the number and proportion of these young people who had achieved at least D to G and A* to C grades by academic age 18. The data shown represents the last five cohorts for whom attainment
	data to academic age 18 is available, and is based on young people in the state sector at academic age 15.
	
		
			 English GCSE 
			 Cohort (academic ages) Did not achieve D-G by end of academic age 15 Of whom achieved at least D-G by end academic age 18(1) Did not achieve A*-C by end of academic age 15 Of whom achieved A*-C by end academic age 18 
			  Number % Number % Number % Number % 
			 15 in 2004/05; 18 in 2007/08 46,577 7.9 3,271 7.0 260,614 44.5 19,554 7.5 
			 15 in 2005/06; 18 in 2008/09 43,975 7.4 3,588 8.2 258,957 43.4 20,746 8.0 
			 15 in 2006/07; 18 in 2009/10 42,848 7.1 3,686 8.6 255,535 42.4 21,504 8.4 
			 15 in 2007/08; 18 in 2010/11 39,818 6.6 3,819 9.6 243,926 40.6 22,694 9.3 
			 15 in 2008/09; 18 in 2011/12 33,594 5.8 3,291 9.8 223,435 38.5 22,576 10.1 
		
	
	
		
			 Mathematics GCSE 
			 Cohort (academic ages) Did not achieve D-G by end of academic age 15 Of whom achieved at least D-G by end academic age 18(1) Did not achieve A*-C by end of academic age 15 Of whom achieved A*-C by end academic age 18 
			  Number % Number % Number % Number % 
			 15 in 2004/05; 18 in 2007/08 47,977 8.2 3,603 7.5 295,378 50.4 18,228 6.2 
			 15 in 2005/06; 18 in 2008/09 46,103 7.7 4,181 9.1 290,085 48.7 19,161 6.6 
			 15 in 2006/07; 18 in 2009/10 45,493 7.5 4,408 9.7 281,244 46.7 18,818 6.7 
			 15 in 2007/08; 18 in 2010/11 38,776 6.5 4,025 10.4 266,252 44.4 20,665 7.8 
			 15 in 2008/09; 18 in 2011/12 32,537 5.6 3,113 9:6 242,032 41.7 20,714 8.6 
		
	
	
		
			 English and mathematics GCSE 
			 Cohort (academic ages) Did not achieve D-G by end of academic age 15 Of whom achieved at least D-G by end academic age18(1) Did not achieve A*-C by end of academic age 15 Of whom achieved A*-C by end academic age 18 
			  Number % Number % Number % Number % 
			 15 in 2004/05; 18 in 2007/08 58,839 10.0 3,767 64 332,012 56.7 23,946 7.2 
			 15 in 2005/06; 18 in 2008/09 56,757 9.5 4,329 7.6 328,719 55.1 25,387 7.7 
			 15 in 2006/07; 18 in 2009/10 55,448 9.2 4,441 8.0 322,754 53.5 25,878 8.0 
			 15 in 2007/08; 18 in 2010/11 48,512 8.1 4,113 8.5 309,342 51.5 28,178 9.1 
			 15 in 2008/09; 18 in 2011/12 41,180 7.1 3,366 8.2 284,802 49.1 28,748 10.1 
			 (1 )Includes those that achieved A*-C by end academic age 18.

Home Education

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of (a) girls and (b) boys registered as being home-schooled who are not receiving an adequate education.

David Laws: The Department does not collect data on the number of children registered by local authorities as receiving home education and not all local authorities operate registration schemes. Local authorities have a duty to intervene if it appears to them that a child of compulsory school age is not receiving a suitable education, and handle this matter on a case-by-case basis when such children come to their attention. The Department does not collect data on the numbers of these cases.

Home Education

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that girls and boys who are home-schooled receive an equal education.

David Laws: We respect the right of parents to educate their children at home. If a child is of compulsory school age, home education has to be suitable for his or her age, ability and aptitude. The Department does not currently have any evidence that there is a general problem in the provision of education at home for girls as opposed to boys.

Kings Science Academy

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  when his Department was informed by Action Fraud that the police had decided to take no further action into allegations of fraud at the Kings Science Academy in Bradford;
	(2)  for what reasons his Department's report of May 2013 on the Kings Science Academy in Bradford was not published before 25 October 2013.

Edward Timpson: The Department contacted Action Fraud on 5 September and, in response, Action Fraud stated that the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau had assessed the case but determined that there was not enough information to progress the case further.
	Action Fraud subsequently notified the Department on 1 November that the information provided had been wrongly classified as an information report rather than a crime report. This error has been rectified by Action Fraud and West Yorkshire police have confirmed they are now investigating. Action Fraud has apologised to the Department for this error.
	The Education Funding Agency (EFA) published all investigation reports, but there is no set timeframe for publication. In this case, the EFA was awaiting the outcome not only of the police enquiries, but also of any disciplinary process before publishing the report.

Members: Correspondence

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to his statement of 17 October 2013, Official Report, column 887, on Al-Madinah Free School, if he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central of 15 October 2013.

David Laws: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, Lord Nash, wrote to the hon. Member on 7 November 2013.

Private Education: Admissions

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if he will run a pilot programme of the Open Access scheme promoted by the Sutton Trust in independent day schools in the West Midlands;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the Open Access scheme promoted by the Sutton Trust;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to implement the Open Access scheme promoted by the Sutton Trust.

Edward Timpson: The Government applauds the many initiatives in the independent schools sector, supported by schools through bursaries and scholarships, and by many charities, to support children who would not otherwise be able to receive an independent school education. However, we have no plans to introduce an Open Access scheme.
	Our priority is to transform the state education system so that all children are able to access a good quality education, regardless of their background. Independent schools have a key role to play in this; for example, they can work collaboratively with their state school neighbours, or become academy sponsors of underperforming schools.

Schools: Inspections

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make mindfulness training available to Ofsted inspectors.

David Laws: It is a key responsibility of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector to determine the training, skills and experience that are necessary to carry out inspections on his behalf.
	Ofsted is an independent, non-ministerial Government Department so it would not be appropriate for the Department for Education to intervene in training for inspectors.

Schools: Inspections

David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that Ofsted gives increased consideration to the quality of careers advice and the monitoring of pupil's destinations when judging the effectiveness of a school's management and leadership.

Matthew Hancock: Ofsted's commitment to give greater priority to the inspection of careers advice was set out in 'Going in the right direction? Careers guidance in schools from September 2012', a thematic review report published on 10 September. This has been reflected in the supplementary guidance for inspectors which asks them to look at:
	“The extent to which timely information, advice and guidance provide pupils with a good understanding of the full range of options available to assist them to make informed decisions about their next steps in education, training or employment; the availability and quality of advice and guidance on learning and career pathways; and whether staff have the necessary qualifications, experience and skills to provide information, advice and guidance.”
	Ofsted's inspectors have been briefed on how to implement this in practice and what to look for, in light of the thematic review findings.
	The Department for Education publishes Destination Measures for each school and these will feed into judgments by Ofsted, as well as helping schools to be held to account locally. We are continuing to strengthen the Measures to provide an increasingly effective way of assessing whether schools and colleges are raising the aspirations of their students and supporting them effectively into education, training or employment.

Schools: Transport

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities to delegate school transport funding to individual schools so that they may design their own arrangements for their pupils.

David Laws: Currently, the responsibility for school transport, as well as the funding, rests with local authorities and there are no plans to alter legislation to delegate this responsibility formally, or the funding, to individual schools.
	We expect local authorities to work in partnership with schools, local transport providers and neighbouring authorities to identify needs and to source the most appropriate provision and secure value for money. In planning and commissioning area-wide transport provision to meet the needs of the whole community, they are best placed to enter into contractual arrangements on behalf of schools and other services.
	If, however, an individual school wanted to manage its own provision, then it is open to the school to discuss with the local authority how the transport funding and responsibility could be devolved.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions (a) he and (b) ministers in his Department have had with Her Majesty's Chief Inspectorate of Education, Children's Services and Skills on inspecting specialist support services for deaf children.

Edward Timpson: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), and I have held discussions with Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills, Sir Michael Wilshaw, and Ofsted about inspecting local authorities' implementation of the reforms to support children with special educational needs including deaf children.
	The Department for Education has asked Ofsted to carry out a study to identify best practice in preparing for the reforms and whether there is a need for an inspection framework to drive improvements. Ofsted will consider links with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in developing this work. We will reflect on the implications of the study when it is completed.
	We have no plans for Ofsted routinely to inspect local authority specialist services. To do so would impose significant new burdens on Ofsted and would impact on its ability to fulfil its current inspection commitments. It also risks giving schools the wrong impression that they are not responsible for deaf pupils or that those pupils are someone else's responsibility.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information is available to parents of pre-school deaf children on the effectiveness of support from specialist support services for deaf children.

Edward Timpson: Local authorities are responsible for providing information to parents about specialist support services available in their area.
	The Children and Families Bill places a new requirement on local authorities to set out a “local offer” of the support that is normally available. This will include special educational provision for children in early years settings.
	Clause 32 of the Bill also requires local authorities to provide parents of children and young people with advice and information about matters relating to special educational needs, which will include parents of pre-school deaf children.
	In addition, Ofsted inspects all registered early years providers to judge the quality and standards of the care and the learning and development of children. These are inspected against the standards set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, and this includes clear elements on special educational needs.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the report entitled Communication is the Key by Ofsted, what assessment (a) he and (b) Ofsted has made of the effectiveness of specialist support services for deaf children across England in local authorities that were not included in that report.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has not made an assessment of the effectiveness of specialist services for deaf children in local authorities not covered in the Ofsted report entitled “Communication is the Key”.
	Nationally, the Department for Education assesses the progress of deaf children through the school attainment data. We know from our most recent figures that attainment for deaf children has improved dramatically over the last five years. In 2011/12, 71% of deaf children achieved five or more A* to C grades in GCSE compared to 43% in 2007/08. The Department publishes this data annually in “Children with special educational needs: an analysis”.
	Ofsted does not routinely inspect local authority specialist services. All deaf children in publicly funded education have their school inspected by Ofsted through the existing framework. This includes both mainstream and special schools. Where schools have a specialist resource for deaf children as part of their school this is specifically covered by the Ofsted inspection.
	The school inspection framework places a clear emphasis on meeting the needs of disabled pupils and pupils with special educational needs, such as deaf pupils. Inspectors must consider the quality of teaching and the progress made by these pupils. Any deaf child in a mainstream or specialist school would have their education inspected as part of the Ofsted section 5 framework.

Teachers: Training

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education where a school with School Direct trainees fails its Ofsted inspection, what rights School Direct trainees have to transfer to a new school and who will have responsibility for (a) amending any contractual arrangements into which the school may have entered with School Direct trainees and (b) making any other consequential arrangements.

David Laws: The responsibility for the quality of initial teacher training under School Direct falls on the accredited provider. Therefore, if a school were to fail its Ofsted inspection, the relevant training provider would need to ensure that any trainees based in that school continued to receive a high quality training experience, whether at the original school or elsewhere. Where the trainee is also employed by a school on the School Direct (salaried) scheme, any change to the contract between the trainee and the school would need to be agreed by the school, trainee and accredited provider.

Teachers: Training

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what account is taken in Ofsted school inspections of the performance of schools in respect of School Direct trainees.

David Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to the hon. Member, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Library.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bed and Breakfast Accommodation: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were recorded as living in bed and breakfast accommodation in the principal seaside towns in each of the last 30 years.

Kris Hopkins: This information is not centrally held in the form requested, although figures are available for individual local authority areas.

Electrical Safety

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions have taken place between officials of his Department and manufacturers and suppliers of moulded plastic fuse boards on returning to the use of metal or rigid plastics for the purpose of improving fire protection.

Brandon Lewis: No discussions have taken place between officials in my Department and the manufacturers and suppliers of moulded plastic fuse boards.
	The Institution of Engineering and Technology has recently established a Project Team to look into this issue and advise the British Standards Institute on the adequacy of current standards. Manufacturers and suppliers of consumer units are members of the Project Team and officials from my Department will be attending future meetings.

Energy: Prices

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated average (a) monthly and (b) annual fuel bills were for families in England and Wales (i) in total and (ii) in each region in each of the last three years.

Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
	The following table shows the average fuel bills for households in England and Wales for each of the last three years, with a further table showing bills by regions.
	
		
			 Average total energy bill in England and Wales 
			 £ 
			  Annual Monthly 
			 2010 1,074 90 
			 2011 1,170 97 
			 2012 1,277 106 
		
	
	
		
			 Average total energy bill 
			 £ 
			  Annual Monthly 
			 Public Electricity Supply region 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 
			 East Midlands 1,056 1,156 1,258 88 96 105 
			 Eastern 1,060 1,159 1,264 88 97 105 
			 London 1,094 1,187 1,293 91 99 108 
			 Merseyside and North Wales 1,091 1,192 1,298 91 99 108 
		
	
	
		
			 North East 1,063 1,152 1,257 89 96 105 
			 North Scotland 1,088 1,176 1,290 91 98 107 
			 North West 1,059 1,170 1,273 88 97 106 
			 South East 1,068 1,162 1,272 89 97 106 
			 South Scotland 1,082 1,176 1,273 90 98 106 
			 South Wales 1,102 1,192 1,310 92 99 109 
			 South West 1,088 1,186 1,300 91 99 108 
			 Southern 1,081 1,168 1,277 90 97 106 
			 West Midlands 1,071 1,174 1,282 89 98 107 
			 Yorkshire 1,053 1,155 1,258 88 96 105 
		
	
	All figures assume fixed consumption levels of 18,000 kWh for gas and 3,300 kWh for electricity, and are averaged across all methods of payment. DECC does not publish data on gas bills in Northern Ireland. Data for monthly bills are calculated by dividing the annual bills by 12.
	The datasets are made available in the DECC statistics publication Quarterly Energy Prices, in tables 2.2.2 and 2.3.2 (for England and Wales) and tables 2.2.3 and 2.3.3 (for each PES region of Great Britain).
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/annual-domestic-energy-price-statistics

Fire Services: Industrial Disputes

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse was of providing cover for the strike by firefighters on 25 September 2013.

Brandon Lewis: Individual fire and rescue authorities are responsible for their own contingency plans. We do not hold information centrally on the relevant costs or savings.

Housing

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that his plans to transfer £400 million of local authorities' New Homes Bonus funds into a national fund for local economic partnerships (LEP) does not result in low-income councils funding high-income LEP areas;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of whether his plans to transfer £400 million from local authorities' New Homes Bonus funds into a national pot for local economic partnerships (LEP) will result in lower-income local authorities funding higher-income LEP areas.

Kris Hopkins: There are no plans to transfer £400 million of New Homes Bonus funds into a national fund for local enterprise partnerships. We consulted over the summer on how £400 million of New Homes Bonus funds could form part of the Local Growth Fund in 2015-16 to help them collaborate with local authorities to deliver local growth priorities. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation.

Housing: Construction

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2013, Official Report, column 189W, on housing: construction, what his latest estimate is of the number of residential units under construction or progressing towards a start; and what assessment he has made of the recent Local Government Association report on that topic.

Nicholas Boles: The information is as follows.
	Previous claims
	In my answer of 9 July 2013, Official Report, column 189W, I noted that there were claims being made by politicians that there were 400,000 homes with planning permission which were not being built because of "land banking". I explained how these claims were inaccurate and misleading, and not actually backed up by the evidence.
	The original 400,000 figure stems from a report commissioned by the Local Government Association undertaken by Glenigan on units with 'unimplemented' planning permissions using data sourced in December 2011. Yet, of that 400,000 top-line figure cited in the press release, 191,000 was private housing already under construction. A further 83,000 units were unimplemented provisions for social housing (and therefore, in no sense private sector developers "hoarding land"). The underlying report also noted that the amount of unimplemented schemes had fallen by a third from 2008 to 2011, and the number of private, unstarted units had fallen from 206,000 in March 2008 to 127,000 in December 2011.
	The latest analysis
	The Local Government Association published a further press release on 22 August, repeating that canard, citing Glenigan but declining to publish any detailed evidence base. In the spirit of helpfulness, given my Department also subscribes to Glenigan's commercial data, I have asked my officials to undertake some more detailed analysis.
	I can inform the House that, as of October 2013, there were an estimated 507,000 units with planning permission. Of these:
	249,800 (49%) had started on site.
	257,200 (51%) had yet to start.
	Of the 257,200 units yet to start:
	184,600 (72%) were progressing towards a start.
	13,500 (5%) were being sold or information was not available.
	Just 59,100 (23%) were classed as on hold or shelved.
	The LGA's 400,000 figure excludes some types of residential development (e.g. elderly people's homes, student accommodation, hostels, mixed use development), and does not include planning permissions older than three years. This explains the methodological difference with the 500,000 figure. My figures above are the most comprehensive and recent in the public domain.
	This table shows our progress towards getting unstarted units moving:
	
		
			 Unstarted units Percentage of units on hold Percentage of units progressing towards start 
			 December 2011 38 58 
			 March 2012 36 60 
			 June 2012 33 62 
			 October 2012 29 68 
			 January 2013 25 70 
			 June 2013 23 73 
			 October 2013 23 72 
		
	
	A pipeline of planning permissions is vital to feed through to higher starts and completions. This involves house builders having a suitable selection of sites at various stages, including some which have not yet been developed. Indeed, our national planning policy actively requires councils to identify a five year land supply.
	Third party observations
	In my previous answer I cited research from the Office of Fair Trading which stated that:
	“We have not found any evidence to support the view that, at the national level, homebuilders are hoarding a large amount of land with implementable planning permission on which they have not started construction.” (OFT, ‘Homebuilding in the UK; A market study’, September 2008, para 5.89)
	Such claims were also dismissed in Kate Barker's report in 2004.
	In August, market reports from Savills noted:
	“The demand for land is increasing as developers are working through their land banks more quickly than at any time since 2007-08. . . Some commentators have claimed development land is being hoarded unnecessarily as landowners wait for values to increase. Our analysis of the permissioned landbanks of the top eight listed housebuilders would suggest otherwise.”
	They add:
	“Help to Buy will aid the rate of delivery of land in marginal locations. An emerging build to rent sector offers the opportunity to increase delivery while creating a reliable income stream” (Savills, ‘Market in Minutes: UK Residential Development Land’, August 2013)
	Getting stalled sites started
	This Government has introduced a wide ranging package to support stalled house building. These include making £570 million available through the Get Britain Building investment fund aiming to unlock new homes on stalled sites, and a £474 million investment fund in local infrastructure for stalled locally-supported, large scale housing sites and commercial development. Our investments to date are helping to bring forward new homes, boosting the construction industry and stimulating economic growth.
	The Growth and Infrastructure Act enables developers with any Section 106 agreement, irrespective of the date of signature, to apply for a review of the affordable housing component to ensure development is not being made unviable by unrealistic requirements. Such unrealistic Section 106 agreements result in no development, no regeneration and no community benefits: a sensible review can result in more housing and more affordable housing.
	Since September 2013, we have let lapse the temporary measure (introduced by the last Administration) which allowed developers to roll forward their planning permissions; this ending of the measure will increase the incentive for developers to start on site before permission expires. We are also now seeking to tackle the inappropriate use of planning conditions and speed up the process of gaining non-planning consents.
	In addition, we have a comprehensive programme to sell surplus and redundant public sector land and property, freeing up taxpayers' money and providing land for new homes.
	Conclusion
	The assertion of widespread “land banking” by certain politicians is not backed up by the evidence. Indeed, the policy solutions recently advocated by HM Opposition may actually have an adverse effect in reducing house building. If developers fear new development taxes or state confiscation of land, they will be less willing to undertake complex land assembly projects; they will let their existing planning permissions lapse; or they will simply be more cautious in applying for planning permission in the first place. The result would be a slower planning system and fewer homes.
	The housing crash under the Labour Government certainly led to an increase in unimplemented planning permissions, as house builders unsurprisingly stopped building due to lack of finance, reduced demand and due to a decreased tolerance for risk. But under this Government, the housing market has turned the corner, and our housing support schemes and action to tackle stalled sites is helping getting Britain building once again.

Local Government: ICT

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he has issued to local authorities on the End User Devices Security Guidance: Enterprise Considerations published by CESG.

Brandon Lewis: My Department has not issued any guidance on the guidance.
	The Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG), a branch of GCHQ, has published security guidelines for public sector organisations on how best to configure devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets and maintain information security.

Mortgages: North West

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to promote the Help to Buy scheme in the North West.

Kris Hopkins: The Help to Buy: equity loan scheme has got off to a great start with over 15,000 reservations by the end of September, a good proportion of which have been in the North of England. It is for individual house builders to promote their developments locally, however we are supporting them with a series of national campaigns to raise awareness of both the Help to Buy: equity loan scheme and the mortgage guarantee scheme launched by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in October.

Public Buildings: Disability

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the total cost of ensuring that all public buildings have changing facilities for disabled adults.

Helen Grant: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Government Equalities Office.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold any information about the current level of provision of such facilities nor has it made any assessment of the cost of providing these.

Public Buildings: Disability

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the availability of public changing facilities for disabled adults in (a) Sunderland, (b) the North East and (c)England.

Helen Grant: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Government Equalities Office.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold any information about the current level of provision of such facilities.

Public Buildings: Disability

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the provision of changing facilities for disabled adults in (a) public buildings and (b) other premises open to the public.

Helen Grant: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Government Equalities Office.
	In providing changing facilities for disabled adults in public buildings and other areas open to the public, those providing a service, or carrying out a public function are required to act in accordance with the disability discrimination provisions in the Equality Act 2010, and in particular the duty to make reasonable adjustments in Section 20 of that Act.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer parliamentary question 169282, tabled on 11 September 2013.

Brandon Lewis: Parliamentary question 169282 was answered on 1 November 2013, Official Report, columns 621-22W.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what involvement Mr David Frost has had with alcohol pricing policy in the last 12 months.

Jo Swinson: Home Office Ministers have the lead responsibility on Minimum Unit Pricing and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has only been peripherally involved. Mr Frost had some very limited involvement in official-level discussions between Departments in autumn 2012 about the policy from an EU and trade policy perspective.

Construction: Complaints

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many builders were prosecuted after being reported to their trade association in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many builders faced no further action after being reported to their trade association in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many builders were required to pay compensation or received an equivalent punishment after being reported to their trade association in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK in each of the last five years;
	(4)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of rogue builders and building companies operating in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK;
	(5)  how many builders in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK were reported to their trade association in each of the last five years.

Jo Swinson: Local authorities are responsible for delivering and monitoring local trading standards activity, including the number of prosecutions. The information requested is not collected by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) co-ordinates and funds the delivery of the Scambuster Teams in England, which provide enforcement protection across local authority boundaries.
	In addition, BIS has set up the Consumer Protection Partnership (CPP) where the government-funded consumer bodies to take a joint approach to identify areas where there is greatest threat to consumers. On 4 November they published a priorities report which used consumer complaint data to identify areas where consumers faced the most harm (mobile phone and mobile technology contracts, used cars, home improvement, scams and doorstep crime). A working group will now identify the best approach to tackling those rogue traders in the building sector. The report can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consumer-protection-partnership-priorities-2013-to-2014
	Alongside this, consumers can rely on code schemes in order to find a trader they can trust. The TrustMark scheme operates under BIS's licence and aims to marginalise unscrupulous traders and provide confidence to consumers in their selection of firms by identifying those firms who have been independently assessed for both trade competence and good trading practice. Although my Department does not hold information on a geographic basis, TrustMark (2005) Ltd has estimated that nationally their members carry out 2 million jobs per annum and complaints run to a little under one in 10,000 jobs undertaken. TrustMark (2005) Ltd operates a complaints procedure with most disputes being resolved between the contractor and the consumer without requirement of any further escalation.
	Since April 2012 all consumers who are in a dispute with their builder have been able to call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06 or contact them online at
	www.adviceguide.org.uk
	While they cannot intervene, they can give advice and refer matters to trading standards, who can take action on local matters.

Education: Prisons

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  which organisations provide education services in each prison in England and Wales;
	(2)  when contracts were signed with each of the providers delivering education services in prisons in England and Wales;
	(3)  when the contracts with each of the providers delivering education services in prisons in England and Wales come to an end;
	(4)  how much was spent on each contract to deliver education services in prisons in England and Wales in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13;
	(5)  how much is budgeted to be spent on each of the contracts to deliver education services in prisons in England and Wales in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15.

Matthew Hancock: I am replying as Minister responsible for prison education in England.
	I have asked the interim chief executive of Skills Funding to write to the hon. Member with details of prison education contractors, contracts and spend in England, and I will place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House.
	In Wales, education in the public sector prisons is delivered through funding from the Welsh Government.

Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what the budget allocation for the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EASI) was in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; how much was spent by EASI in each of these years; and what the planned budget allocation is for 2013-14 and any future years for which an amount has been planned;
	(2)  what the budget allocation for the enforcement of the national minimum wage by HMRC was in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; how much was spent on this work in each of these years; what the planned budget allocation is for the enforcement of the national minimum wage by HMRC for 2013-14 and any future years for which an amount has been planned; and whether any budget allocation previously made to the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate has been transferred to HMRC.

Jo Swinson: The information sought by the hon. Member is being researched and will be placed in the Libraries of the House as soon as possible.

Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff of the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate were (a) seconded to the National Minimum Wage Compliance section at HMRC in November 2013 and (b) in his Department by (i) total number, (ii) full-time equivalent and (iii) grade; and how many such staff are front line staff who meet employers.

Jo Swinson: On 4 November 2013, nine staff transferred on loan from the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate to HM Revenue and Custom's National Minimum Wage Compliance team.
	Two full-time front line inspectors, one Higher Executive Officer and one Executive Officer, remain in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to enforce the recruitment sector legislation. They are supported by one Administrative Officer.

Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff were employed by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in (a) May 2010, (b) October 2012 and (c) October 2013.

Jo Swinson: The number of staff employed by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) was as follows:
	May 2010—29 staff
	October 2012—12 staff
	October 2013—11 staff
	The following shows activity undertaken by EAS between 2010 and 2013:
	
		
			 Investigations 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Complaints received 1,714 958 643 828 
			 Complaints cleared 1,932 1,101 784 916 
			 Casework still in progress 371 202 225 147 
		
	
	During this time EAS adopted a more risk based approach to assessing and handling the complaints and this resulted in more targeted enforcement.

Pesticides: Exports

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any pesticides banned for use in the UK are manufactured in the UK and exported.

Michael Penning: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	In 2012, 16 pesticides that are banned or severely restricted for use in the UK were notified to HSE for export from the UK under European Regulation (EC) 689/2008 on the Export and Import of Dangerous Substances. These included five exported solely for industrial rather than pesticidal use in the importing country. In addition to export notification many of them needed the explicit consent of the importing country before the export could proceed.
	These chemicals may either have been manufactured in the UK or imported and then exported to countries outside the European Union. We do not hold information on which were manufactured in the UK.

Post Offices

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many expressions of interest there have been in taking on the franchise of Rhyl Crown Post Office;
	(2)  what definition his Department adopted of expression of interest in reference to taking on the franchise of Crown post offices;
	(3)  what the (a) names and (b) constituencies are of Crown post offices which are planned to be closed or relocated;
	(4)  when the criteria for Crown post offices to be closed were (a) finalised and (b) circulated;
	(5)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the criteria for the closure and relocation of Crown post offices.

Jo Swinson: Post Office Ltd is responsible for commercial and operational matters concerning the Post Office network, which includes the information requested. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Chief Executive, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Regional Growth Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what future targets he has set for the total amount of investment made in England under the Regional Growth Fund.

Michael Fallon: To date £2.6 billion has been awarded to over 400 projects and programmes in rounds 1 to 4 of the regional growth fund (RGF). These schemes have committed to delivering £14.7 billion of private sector investment over their lifetimes. The combined total of RGF plus private sector investment is £17.3 billion between 2011 and the mid-2020s.
	In addition a further £600 million will be made available in rounds 5 and 6 of the RGF and in making this money available to bidders we expect levels of private sector investment in line with previous rounds.

Royal Mail

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects a decision on whether to pay the discretionary element of fees to underwriters in relation to the sale of Royal Mail; and what targets, milestones and deadlines have been set for this to take place.

Michael Fallon: The Department will make a decision on the discretionary element of the underwriters' fees shortly.

Royal Mail

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which factors he has considered as part of the Government's decision on the discretionary element of the fees to underwriters in relation to the sale of Royal Mail; and what framework or guidance applies to this decision.

Michael Fallon: The decision on the discretionary element of the underwriters' fees will take into consideration a number of factors set out in the agreement with the underwriters. These include the relevant underwriters' contribution to the efficient preparation of the IPO and its overall success. We will also look at their success in generating demand for the IPO alongside the quality and success of roadshow meetings and resulting investor feedback. In addition, we will consider the final price achieved and the aftermarket performance of the shares.

Students: Barrow in Furness

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many entrants to higher education who are resident in Barrow and Furness constituency were in receipt of maintenance loans in each year since the coming into effect of the Higher Education Act 2004.

David Willetts: Statistics on student support awards and payments are published annually by the Student Loans Company in the Statistical First Release "Student support for Higher Education in England". The latest figures available refer to the 2012/13 academic year for student support awards and 2011/12 for actual payments, and are available at the following link:
	http://www.slc.co.uk/statistics/national-statistics/newnationalstatistics1.aspx
	Statistics covering student support awards in the 2013/14 academic year and payments in 2012/13 will be published on 28 November 2013.
	Figures at parliamentary constituency level are not published in this Statistical First Release. For the table, the parliamentary constituency of the student has been derived by the Student Loans Company using the postcode of the student's residence at the time of their application for support, where this postcode is reported. The figures for Barrow-in-Furness reflect all students rather than entrants as the system for recording payments data, unlike the system used for applications, does not distinguish between new and continuing students.
	
		
			 Number of full-time students to higher education who were paid maintenance loans in Barrow-in-Furness parliamentary constituency(1), academic years: 2006/07 to 2011/12(2), English domiciled 
			 Academic year Number of students(3) 
			 2006/07 1,135 
			 2007/08 1,165 
			 2008/09 1,125 
			 2009/10 1,105 
			 2010/11 1,105 
		
	
	
		
			 2011/12 1,145 
			 (1) Based on the student's address at the time of the application. (2)The data position as at 31 August 2012. (3) All students either new or continuing. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Student Loans Company (SLC).

UK Membership of EU

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make an assessment of the costs and benefits of a decision for the UK to leave the EU for UK trade with (a) China, (b) the US and (c) Canada; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds), on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W. The Department has not made any plans for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

Alison McGovern: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2013, Official Report, column 552W, on Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund 
	(1)  how many people have applied to that fund to date; how many such applications have been successful; and how many recipients of grants have stood for office for each political party
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the effects of grant payments being processed in arrears on the ability of potential candidates to stand for office.

Helen Grant: The Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund helps disabled people with any additional disability-related cost they incur as a result of either participating in a selection process or standing for election, including standing as an independent candidate.
	To date, 53 people have applied to the fund, of which 21 applications have been fully approved. A further 14 applications have been approved in principle by the fund administrator, subject to receipt of supporting evidence and documentation. The remaining 18 applications are pending a decision.
	Nine applications have been from candidates representing the Conservative Party, 21 from the Labour Party, seven from the Liberal Democrat Party, seven from other parties and nine from independent candidates.
	Payments are generally processed in arrears but applicants are able to request that the fund pays the supplier directly. The ability of potential disabled candidates to stand for office should not therefore be affected.

Equality: Impact Assessments

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what her policy is on the future use of equality impact assessments.

Jo Swinson: All Departments must consider equality in policy development as a matter of course. Equality impact assessments (EqIAs) can be a useful tool, but are not always necessary for the proper consideration of equality.